DISASTER DECLARATION GHANA FLOOD DISASTER

UNCLAS ACCRA 001054


DAKAR FOR OFDA/WNARO DAVIS
ACCRA FOR USAID/WA
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH
CONAKRY FOR POL AND USAID
FREETOWN FOR POL AND USAID
NAIROBI FOR OFDA/EARO
EUCOM FOR POLA/J3/J4/J5
BRUSSELS FOR USEU, USAID PBROWN
USUN FOR DMERCADO

STATE FOR PRM, AF/W, IO
NSC FOR TSHORTLEY
USAID FOR USAID/A, AFR/AA, AFR/WA, AFR/SD,
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA GGOTTLIEB, SROGERS, CPRATT,
USAID FOR DCHA/AA, DCHA/FFP, DCHA/OTI, DCHA/CMM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF WFP GH PHUM SENV
SUBJECT: DISASTER DECLARATION GHANA FLOOD DISASTER


1. This is an action request. Please see paragraph 9.


2. Pursuant to section 062, volume 2 of the Foreign
Affairs Manual and USAID ADS 251, the Charge
d'Affaires has determined that a disaster exists in
Ghana and certifies that the following conditions
exist: over the past few months high levels of
rainfall have inundated the Upper East, Northern, and
Upper West Regions of Ghana. The incessant rains and
flooding have resulted in collapsed homes, washed
away bridges and roads, and immediate and short-term
food insecurity of affected populations. The flooding
has been exacerbated by the opening of both spillways
of the Bagre and Kompienga Dams in Burkina Faso
between September 4 and 22, releasing significant
water flows into the White Volta River, which flows
into Ghana. Also affected is the Oti River catchment
area covering parts of the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district.


3. The GOG's initial assessment on September 9th and
10th was followed by a rapid UN Joint assessment on
September 17th and 18th in some parts of the Northern
Region confirming that over 130,000 people have been
affected by floods in three northern regions of Ghana.
According to a weekly situation report released by
the United Nations Office for Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs on September 25, 2009, over 659
communities in Upper East, Northern Region, and Upper
West Regions have been affected by the flood with at
least 24 communities inaccessible from the rest of
the country. Over 6,352 houses and 13 school buildings
have collapsed with over 38,000 acres of farm lands
destroyed. Many displaced persons are living in school
buildings and churches with surviving animals;
boreholes and hand-dug wells have been contaminated
by the floods. So far 8 deaths have occurred as the
victims were swept away by raging waters in their
attempt to salvage farm and household effects. It is
evident from initial reports by the GOG and members
of the UN and NGO consortium that this flood disaster
is of a magnitude beyond government's capacity to
adequately respond; hence, the call by the National
Disaster Management Organization on September 28 for
assistance to alleviate the "excessive" human
suffering. The Northern Regional Minister has already
issued a press release calling for humanitarian
assistance to affected persons.


4. The Government of Ghana through the Regional
Coordinating Council, is leading a weekly humanitarian
assessment meeting in Tamale. In addition, a monthly
Inter-Agency Working Group has been activated to
coordinate and assess the situation. In attendance
will be USAID, other UN agencies (WFP, UNICEF and
others) resident in Accra as well as representatives
from UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)
and Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA),DFID, ECHO, non-government
organizations, private sector, religious bodies and
media. A detailed assessment is yet to be conducted
to determine the extent of damage in the affected
regions.


5. At the September 23 monthly Inter-Agency Working
Group meeting for NGOs, Development Partners and
others hosted at the UN offices in Accra, it was
reiterated that stakeholders should not replicate the
efforts already being taken at the regional level
meetings.


6. Over the weekend of September 26-27, a rapid
assessment team from the Government of Ghana
corroborated the seriousness of the effects of the
floods. With stretches of farmland submerged in
water, the food security situation is likely to
worsen and already partners are being requested to
support efforts at alleviating immediate food
scarcities and imminent health hazards such as
outbreaks of dysentery and malaria. Opportunities
Industrialization Centers International (OICI) has
also received requests from their local collaborators
and partners for urgent food items like rice, cereals,
millet, vegetable oil, cowpeas and non-food items
including mosquito nets, household utensils,
medicines, as well as the means of transporting the
emergency assistance. OICI has submitted a proposal
to USAID.


7. Gaps remaining for non-food items and other
necessities will become clearer after the next
regional Humanitarian Response meeting in Tamale in
the coming week.


8. Responding to this disaster is in the interest of
the U.S. Government because of humanitarian concerns
and the importance of demonstrating that Ghana's
friends stand ready to help. While the GoG is taking
a proactive approach in guiding the relief effort and
coordinating with international humanitarian
assistance partners, there is limited GOG capacity to
respond to the immediate disaster at hand, and thus,
the GOG has appealed for international assistance.
The GOG is very willing to accept USG assistance.


9. In light of these conditions, the U. S. Charge
d'Affaires is requesting an immediate contribution
of 50,000 USD from OFDA to OICI and RTI to implement
an emergency response program. The U.S. Mission
Disaster Relief Officer and OFDA Regional Office
have coordinated their efforts and support provision
of non-food items to victims in the Northern Region
living in temporary homes and to families assisting
them. OICI and RTI will use this amount to provide
non-food items to 5,000 victims in the Kpandai and
West Mamprusi Districts of the Northern Region, the
most heavily affected area of the flood disaster. The
items will include cooking utensils, blankets and
insecticide treated bed nets. In addition to the above
response, USAID through the President's Malaria
Initiative will provide 10,000 courses of anti-
malarial medications to the Northern Region to
supplement the depleted supplies of public health
facilities in flood-affected districts. Following
these responses, there will be an assessment and
additional assistance may be required.


10. Please review and confirm concurrence with the
Charge d'Affaires' declaration and provide guidance
on an appropriate obligation process as soon as
possible.

FURUTA-TOY#