OVERFLIGHT OF TOGO'S FLOODED AREAS CONFIRMS

UNCLAS LOME 000394 ACCRA FOR USAID AND DATT MOODY AID/W FOR OFDA DEPT FOR AF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETDR EAID SENV TO SUBJECT: OVERFLIGHT OF TOGO'S FLOODED AREAS CONFIRMS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, BUT PERHAPS NOT CATASTROPHIC REF: A. LOME 391 ¶B. LOME 387 ¶1. SUMMARY: Post was able to conduct an overflight and drive by of Togo's flooded areas. Water damage near Lome, north and east, is clearly visible as well as farther north towards Notse. Washed out bridges, both road and rail, as well as serious flooding in crop fields, lived-in parcels and unused expanses of land are noticeable. However, the flooding may be less catastrophic than originally thought. International teams have begun to arrive in Lome to assist with surveys of the situation and to lend assistance. Post is still waiting for the GOT to provide us an official and detailed list of required needs. END SUMMARY -------------- FLY-OVER: -------------- ¶2. The Accra-based Department of Defense C-12 plane had a scheduled, and fortuitous stopover in Lome on July 31. Post was offered the opportunity to fly over the flooded area. The flight took off from Lome airport, flew east towards Aneho (near the Benin border),then northwest following National Route 1 to Notse and returned to Lome. The fly over lasted about an hour and gave us the opportunity to assess for ourselves the extent of the flooding. ¶3. EAST OF LOME: During the last 24-48 hours the outskirts of Lome, particularly to the north and east, have been affected by the flooding. During the fly over we noted serious flooding outside Lome and again near Togoville/Lake Togo. Vast expanses of land have been overtaken by water especially where the Zio and Haho rivers spill into Lake Togo. While the flooding is impressive, it appears that this area is largely uninhabited though, with no large cities (other than Aneho),few villages and few crop fields. A major railroad bridge has been washed out in this area. ¶4. NORTH OF LOME: To the North of Lome and until Tsevie (35 kms north of Lome) the flooding has clearly affected inhabited areas and crop fields. From the plane we could easily see housing compounds completely flooded. We could also just make out the delineation of crop fields. (Note: Many of the crop fields are still under water so the top of corn stalks are barely visible. End Note.) ¶5. From the fly over it looks like the area just past Tsevie until 10 kilometers south of Notse has been largely spared by the flooding. North of that area though, where the Haho river intersects with Route one, extensive damage is again visible. The most noticeable damage is the washed out bridge on the Haho river. It appears the break at that point is about 100 feet wide. ¶6. Surprisingly the damage does not appear, from the air at least, to be as catastrophic as might have originally been thought. While clearly there is extensive water damage, flooding, crop destruction and washed out bridges, we were surprised not to see more inhabitable areas overtaken by water. While we saw flooded houses and villages, we did not see villages completely cut off by water. (Note: We have been told that water is starting to recede in some areas End Note.) ¶7. Road traffic has been significantly impacted. We saw only a few motorcycles on the main road. The cargo trucks heading north have been forced to stop in pre-existing parking structures, and when those overflow, they then park on the side of the road. They may be there from some time. -------------- DRIVE BY: -------------- ¶8. We also drove out on the main North-South highway to Togble Kope, some 20 kilometers north of Lome, where the first bridge washout is located. There is a gap of perhaps ten feet where the Zio river broke through. Already one can see that the water level has definitely dropped, although the current remains swift. En route to that spot one passes a giant parking lot where heavily laden trucks bound for northern Togo, Burkina, Mali, and Niger are parked, virtually as far as the eye can see. -------------- INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS: -------------- ¶9. GHANA: Togo's military chief General Nandja told us that Ghana had sent a helicopter (MI-17) to Lome on July 30 to survey damage. While in Togo the helicopter's crew has rescued a group of children whose summer camp installations had been surrounded by water. Nandja said the crew just pilled the small children (4-5 years old) into the helicopter and whisked them to safety. ¶10. FRANCE: Nandja also told us on July 30 that the French were sending two Puma helicopters from Cote d'Ivoire to Togo to assist with an initial damage survey. The GOT has asked that the French focus on rebuilding the three washed out bridges on Togo's main north/south (National Route One.) (Note: Two bridges are 20 kilometers North of Lome and the third further north towards Notse. End Note.) ¶11. OTHERS: A German diplomat told us that they are adopting a wait and see position. Until the GOT clearly spells out it needs, both in terms of technical assistance and humanitarian needs, then Germany will be on stand-by. China is taking the same position. ¶12. COMMENT: Our overflight of Togo's flooded areas confirmed that there is extensive damage to road infrastructures, bridges, crop fields and some villages. The situation, from the air at least, does not appear to be as catastrophic as we originally believed. As the water starts to recede the main focal point will be rebuilding the washed out bridges quickly to restore road traffic. The remaining bridges will need to be surveyed to determine if they are still fit for traffic. We will be requesting a briefing from the French tomorrow to see what they are planning to do and contribute. Once the GOT sends us its official request for assistance, enumerating specific needs, then we can assess what participation and assistance the USG may want to consider. TWINING