HEAVY FLOODING IN SURINAME'S INTERIOR DISPLACES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000266

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR LLUFTIG
DEPT FOR OCS/ACS/WHA - RBRANSON
DEPT FOR WHA/PD APRUITT, GADAMS, EDETTER
DEPT FOR PA/PRS
USAID FOR OFDA/W
USAID FOR REBECCA ROHRER
PLEASE PASS FOR PEACE CORPS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV PREL EAID ECON NS
SUBJECT: HEAVY FLOODING IN SURINAME'S INTERIOR DISPLACES
THOUSANDS OF VILLAGERS


PARAMARIBO 00000266 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) Heavy flooding associated with significant rainfall
over the last six days is affecting an estimated 175
villages located along Suriname's interior riverways. The
government has yet to declare the floods a national
disaster, but is calling the situation a "serious crisis."
The government has not yet formally requested outside
assistance. Details on loss of life and property are still
l
unclear. Meteorologists are predicting continued rain and
rising water levels in coming days in the affected areas.
Eight Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs) are being evacuated
from the affected areas, one on May 8 by air and seven on
May 9 via boat and overland transport; no other PCVs are
threatened by high waters. No other AMCITS are known to be
affected by the flooding at the moment. Post will continue
to monitor and report on the situation.


2. (U) Severe flooding is hitting vast areas of the Upper
Suriname, Tapanahony, Lawa and Upper Marowijne Rivers, with
the Upper Suriname area being the hardest hit. (Note:
These rivers lie in southeastern Suriname and the remote
villages along them are often only reachable by boat or
aircraft. End Note.) There are 15,000 people living in the
Upper Suriname alone. Water is reportedly two meters high
in some villages and several airstrips in the areas are no
longer usable. Many schools and agricultural plots stand
underwater. Nine of 12 clinics in the region remain open.
According to press accounts, many villagers were unable to
secure their food supply and personal possessions as the
flooding caught many by surprise. Media also reports that
many villagers were able to flee in time to higher ground
in their village or surrounding jungle. There have been no
reports of loss of life as yet and damage estimates have
not yet been tallied. The water level of the Brokopondo
water reservoir, operated by the Alcoa-subsidiary bauxite
concern Suralco, remains within safe standards.


3. (SBU) Belfon Aboikoni, the traditional leader (Granman)
of the Sarammaca Maroon tribe (descendants of escaped
slaves) that inhabit the affected area, stated that people
are in need of emergency food supplies, medicines, tents,
and clothing. The scope of the need is not yet known. In a
conversation with the chargi, the Organization for American
States (OAS) representative in Suriname said that Granman
Aboikoni was unhappy with the government's slow response
and failure to contact him directly about needed
assistance; the Granman also plans to request emergency
assistance from the OAS. Aboikoni also reportedly blamed
Brazilian mining in the region for the floods because it
has altered the region's topography and disturbed normal
water flow.


4. (U) In a midday press conference, Minister of Defense
Ivan Fernald and national disaster response coordinator Lt.
Colonel Jerry Slijngard emphasized the seriousness of the
situation and said the scope of the flooding is like
nothing Suriname has seen before, although others claim
that similar flooding occurred roughly forty years ago.
The National Coordinating Commission for Disaster Planning
(NCCR) is coordinating Suriname's response in collaboration
with military, police, the Red Cross, and the Medical
Mission (agency responsible for health care in the
interior). The government's proactive stance contrasts its
initial slow start when Minister of Regional Development
Michel Filisi downplayed the flooding in media events over
the weekend. A Red Cross spokesman said his organization
is standing by to provide assistance as needed, but that
their local supplies are limited. The NCCR has developed an
evacuation plan, but at the moment is concentrating on
moving people to higher ground and will only implement the
plan if necessary. Government officials say that providing
security to displaced persons and to property left behind
is a key component of the mission.


5. (U) According to Minister Fernald, it is not yet clear
whether the Government of Suriname (GOS) will request
foreign assistance, but that this would be determined after
current situation assessments are finalized. Suriname

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still has U.S.-donated humanitarian relief supplies housed
in a disaster warehouse built with U.S. military
assistance, but some portion of that has been shared with
disaster situations in neighboring countries since. The
Embassy has already received a direct request from
Suriname's Chief of Police Delano Braam for five small
generators and three satellite phones to aid the police in
their missions in the disaster area. Based on the scale of
the disaster and the limited resources of Suriname, Post
expects the GOS to request additional assistance from its
international partners in the coming days as the scope of
the disaster unfolds and likely escalates.

LEONARD