MADAGASCAR DECLARES FLOOD DISASTER

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000177

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/E, MBEYZEROV
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA-SKHANDAGLE, KLUU, GGOTTLIEB, AFERRARA, CPRATT
FOR DCHA/FFP/DP - SDOSHANJH, PNOVICK
AFR/EA - OCOLE
PRETORIA USAID/OFDA/SARO - HHALE
NAIROBI FOR USAID/EA/FFP - NESTES, DGORDON
ROME FOR FODAG
GENEVA FOR RMA, DHA, IFRC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL SOCI SENV MA
SUBJECT: MADAGASCAR DECLARES FLOOD DISASTER



1. With tens of thousands of Malagasy displaced by flooding from
the worst rainy season in recent memory, Foreign Minister Marcel
Ranjeva convened donors February 20 to coordinate the ongoing
humanitarian response and make an appeal for emergency assistance.
FonMin Ranjeva affirmed the GOM had made a formal disaster
declaration and is seeking USD 242 million in aid, given that
three-quarters of Madagascar had received much higher than average
rainfall since December.

Government Actions
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2. FonMin Ranjeva and colleagues from the National Office of Risk
and Disaster Management began the presentation to donors with an
overview of Government actions to prevent, prepare for, and respond
to the flooding. Following recommendations from the 2005 Kobe
Conference, the GOM has implemented a warning network for
communities in the path of cyclones; this system has limited deaths
from flooding to fewer than 100 to date. Materials, shelters,
emergency rations and medications have been pre-positioned around
Madagascar so victims can be quickly assisted even if roadways are
blocked. Key roads and bridges have been reinforced. Rivers were
dredged and drainage systems were cleared of debris to facilitate
rainfall runoff.

Thousands Displaced, Crops Lost, Infrastructure Cut
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3. In an impassioned presentation that included a short film clip
produced by National Television, Ranjeva reported over 30,000
Malagasy had been displaced by flooding, 17,000 in Antananarivo
alone. An estimated 80,000 hectares of rice cultivation has been
lost, which will cause a shortage of about 200,000 tons in the
coming months. The Minister reported that many areas of Madagascar
have already received three to four times the average normal
rainfall for this season.


4. Ranjeva reported damage to ports, administrative buildings,
national road networks, and bridges throughout the country which
hindered relief efforts and commerce in general.

Plea for USD 242 Million in Emergency Assistance
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5. Minister Ranjeva completed his talk with a well-orchestrated
plea for USD 242 million in emergency assistance from the
international community, which in part included needs in the
following areas (all amounts in USD):

-- 7 million for medications for displaced persons;

-- 9 million for rice for displaced persons;

-- 80 million to repair infrastructure;

-- 8 million to repair schools;

-- 56 million to repair hospitals and clinics (half considered
immediate need; half "long term");

-- 45 million to restore farmlands with seeds and irrigation;

-- 2 million to restore fishing communities;

-- 18 million to repair hundreds of dikes, clear debris, and rebuild
administrative buildings.


6. French Ambassador Le Roy answered the call by pledging 700,000
euros (USD one million) for food security assistance. The African
Development Bank pledged USD 500,000 in emergency assistance, and
the European Union promised an unspecified amount to rebuild roads.

MCGEE