TOGO'S FLOODING SITUATION: TOGO AND PARTNERS ARE

UNCLAS LOME 000401 DEPT FOR AF AID/W FOR OFDA DAKAR FOR OFDA ACCRA FOR USAID AND DATT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL SENV MASS TO GH FR SUBJECT: TOGO'S FLOODING SITUATION: TOGO AND PARTNERS ARE ACTIVE REF: A. LOME 400 ¶B. LOME 397 ¶C. LOME 394 ¶D. LOME 391 ¶E. LOME 387 ¶1. SUMMARY: Assessment teams, both national and international, have begun to return to Lome and prepare their initial analysis and suggested courses of action. Togolese authorities have been present on the ground to distribute supplies, meet the population, assess damage and organize rescue efforts. The international community has also been active, aiding victims and deciding what type of assistance it may be able to provide Togo. END SUMMARY. -------------- TOGOLESE EFFORTS -------------- ¶2. Togolese Ministers of Security, Territorial Administration, Social Affairs, and Transportation have been active in the flooded localities. Togo's disaster relief committee (ORSEC plan) is now working and seeking to address population needs, gathering resources from various ministries and coordinating rescue operations. ORSEC president is Minister of Security Titikpina. We have been pleasantly surprised to see that Titikpina has been communicating regularly and effectively with the Togolese, via radio and television. ¶3. TOGOLESE RED CROSS: The CDA and MDRO called on the president of the Red Cross, Mr. Gagno Paniah, to get his assessment of the flooding situation. Present in Togo since 1959, the Red Cross is the oldest NGO in country and has a substantial network of some 14,000 volunteers throughout the country. Paniah has been involved in the organization for 30 years and started out himself as a volunteer. The organization is starting to open offices in other cities in Togo in order to respond more quickly to disasters. Its mandate is to work in community health, vaccinations, and women's health in particular, and to assist during times of catastrophe and political violence. ¶4. The Red Cross has already been actively involved in assisting the Togolese population, working through the weekend to establish a plan. Volunteers are already present in many of the affected areas. These volunteers are conducting evaluations of the situation and sending their reports back to Lome. Paniah said that the volunteers need more training to deal adequately with the situation. They are teaching villagers how to treat water to make it potable. The biggest needs are for mosquito nets, water tablets, blankets and mats. Paniah also cited potential health problems, including cholera, malaria, and HIV. While the organizational structure is in place to assist the victims, the Red Cross lacks the resources needed to be more effective. -------------- INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS -------------- ¶5. FRANCE: French Charge told us that the military engineering team (present in Togo since July 31) has returned to Cote d'Ivoire after surveying the bridge damage on National Route One. Apparently, while the bridge furthest north needs to be completely rebuilt, the other two bridges can probably be repaired. The French Charge explained that no decision has yet been made as to whether the French will, or will not, pay for and rebuilt the washed out bridge, the team report still being awaited. One French Puma helicopter remains in Togo and continues to airlift supplies from Lome to remote villages affected by the flooding. As waters begin to recede, the French are increasingly focusing their attention on the infrastructure damage to Route One. ¶6. GHANA: Ghanaian military assistance, perhaps the first outside help to arrive here, has been receiving favorable attention in Togo. Ghana has been providing a helicopter to help the Togolese transport supplies into areas cut off by the flooding. The helicopter will remain active here for at least one more week. An engineering unit is also on the ground and is expected to remain for as long as it is needed. Part of the unit has been bringing flood victims out by boat, and five of its engineers have spent all of their time surveying the bridges, particularly along the main North/South artery, Route One. The GOT is urging the Ghanaians to erect a Bailey Bridge at the main bottleneck at Amakpave, but Ghana does not have a spare one available. The Ghanaians have asked if the U.S. could supply one. We suggested waiting for the outcome of the French assessment and subsequent decision before exploring the possibility on our side. ¶7. UNDP: The UNDP returned from its second assessment mission. It is expected to finalize its victim/damage report by August 5. However, initial UNDP estimates tabulate: 30,000-40,000 people have been affected by the flooding in one capacity of another, of which 20,000 people are direct victims of the flood. 4,000 families have been displaced. Six people have died, three are still missing and four are seriously injured. The UNDP is hosting a donor community / humanitarian roundtable on August 5. TWINING