Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NOUAKCHOTT647
2009-10-08 11:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:  

FY 2010 RENEWAL OF DISASTER DECLARATION FOR

Tags:  EAID MR SOCI TBIO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5360
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNK #0647 2811111
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081111Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8818
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0236
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 7244
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0867
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1227
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS NOUAKCHOTT 000647 

AIDAC
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W,
AFR/WA DAKAR FOR GDAVIS,
ACCRA PLEASE PASS TO USAID/WA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID MR SOCI TBIO
SUBJECT: FY 2010 RENEWAL OF DISASTER DECLARATION FOR
FLOODING IN MAURITANIA

REF: A. A) NOUAKCHOTT 000574

B. B) NOUAKCHOTT 00567

UNCLAS NOUAKCHOTT 000647

AIDAC
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W,
AFR/WA DAKAR FOR GDAVIS,
ACCRA PLEASE PASS TO USAID/WA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID MR SOCI TBIO
SUBJECT: FY 2010 RENEWAL OF DISASTER DECLARATION FOR
FLOODING IN MAURITANIA

REF: A. A) NOUAKCHOTT 000574

B. B) NOUAKCHOTT 00567


1. (U) Summary. On September 9, 2009, Post declared a
disaster due to the effects of severe flooding in the city of
Rosso and surrounding areas in southern Mauritania. (Ref A).
In response, the USG has provided USG 25,100 to UNICEF from
the International Disaster Assistance Account for the
construction of latrines and sanitation programs in the
displaced persons camp PK7 in Rosso. OFDA gave an additional
USD 30,000 from a previous UNICEF regional donation to
procure water and sanitation supplies in southern Mauritania.
Continued rains and the lack of infrastructure in southern
Mauritania has led to a prolonged stay of more than 5,000
families in the displaced persons camp PK7 and local schools
in Rosso. Initial reports indicate that further actions will
be needed to meet the needs of those individuals in the
displaced persons camps and to assist the local populations
involved in the agricultural sector to allow for proper
preparations for the coming growing season. End summary.


2. (U) Current Humanitarian Conditions

Post visited the displaced persons camp of PK7 with
representatives from UNICEF and USAID/WA to evaluate the
situation. In addition to those staying in camps, it is
estimate that 1000 displaced families in and around Rosso are
occupying government run schools until they can rebuild or
return to their homes. There remain problems with lighting
and water sanitation in the camps in Rosso. If additional
rains continue there is an acute risk of additional flooding
as water levels have receded somewhat, but the rivers remain
precariously close to flooding stages.


3. (U) Potential Assistance

Many schools in Mauritania have been housing displaced
families. UNICEF Mauritania has received approval from the
GIRM's Minister of Education to proceed with a program to
rehabilitate schools, to include cleaning of outdoor
recreation areas, sanitation of the buildings and resupplying
the schools with the necessary equipment so they may resume
their proper academic functions. The Minister of Education
indicated there are needs in the schools of Rosso as well as
four schools in Nouakchott, which were impacted by the
flooding. There may also be additional need to support the
agricultural capacity of the southern region as residents
begin to prepare for the off-season agricultural planting
period. Planting during the current off-season is
particularly critical because none of the major irrigated
land tracts in the south were prepared for planting due to
the Mauritanian political crisis earlier this year. The
floods may present an opportunity for a more bountiful
agricultural season, but only if assistance can be provided
to replace stocks of seed, fencing and other products used in
the agricultural sector, which were destroyed in the floods.
UNICEF has not yet provided a detailed plan for their
assistance projects, as they are still in discussions with
the GIRM, but Post determines it is necessary to renew the
disaster declaration for FY 2010 to support the assistance
programs which will be needed to address the needs of the
displaced populations in southern Mauritania.
HANKINS