Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
09OUAGADOUGOU694 | 2009-09-02 15:53:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Ouagadougou |
INFO LOG-00 EEB-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 A-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DNI-00 DODE-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VCI-00 FDRE-01 OBO-00 H-00 TEDE-00 IO-00 LAB-01 MOFM-00 MOF-00 VCIE-00 DCP-00 NSAE-00 NIMA-00 EPAU-00 MCC-00 GIWI-00 SP-00 IRM-00 TRSE-00 FMP-00 EPAE-00 PRM-00 DRL-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 FA-00 /002W P 021553Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5349 AMEMBASSY NIAMEY AMEMBASSY BAMAKO |
UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000694 |
1. THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE. PLEASE SEE PARA 7. 2. PURSUANT TO SECTION 062, VOLUME 2 OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS MANUAL AND AID ADS 251, THE CHARGE HAS DETERMINED THAT A DISASTER EXISTS IN BURKINA FASO AND CERTIFIES THAT THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS EXIST. 3. ON SEPTEMBER 1, UNPRECEDENTED TORRENTIAL RAINS FLOODED LARGE SECTIONS OF OUAGADOUGOU. OVER 10.5 INCHES OF RAIN FELL ON BURKINA'S CAPITAL CITY OF ABOUT 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN A 12-HOUR PERIOD. GOVERNMENT OF BURKINA FASO (GOBF) DISASTER UNIT IS REPORTING 109,0000 PEOPLE (ABOUT 17,300 HOUSEHOLDS) ARE HOMELESS AND STAYING IN 30 TEMPORARY SITES (SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, MOSQUES, ETC.) GOBF OFFICIALS EXPECT THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS TO GROW AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF SITES FOR TEMPORARY SHELTER. 4. ALL OF OUAGADOUGOU'S FIVE ARRONDISSEMENTS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BUT THE AREAS OF BOULMIOUGOU AND BOGODOGO ARE THE MOST AFFECTED WITH 85,000 (78% OF TOTAL) OF CURRENT HOMELESS PEOPLE. THE ARRONDISSMENTS OF BASKUY, NONGR-MASSOM AND SIGNOGHIN ARE REPORTED TO HAVE, RESPECTIVELY, 15,000, 5,000 AND 4,000 HOMELESS PEOPLE. 5. DONORS, NGOS AND GOBF REPS MET FOR THE FIRST TIME ON SEPTEMBER 2 TO BEGIN ORGANIZING THE RELIEF EFFORT. TEAMS WILL BE OUT TODAY TO SURVEY AND COLLECT MORE INFORMATION ON THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE AND TO ASSESS IN MORE DETAIL THE NEEDS. A SECOND EMERGENCY MEETING WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 4. THE GOBF IS EXPECTED TO ISSUE ON SEPTEMBER 2 A DISASTER DECLARATION AND AN APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE. 6. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS DISASTER EXCEEDS THE CAPACITY OF THE GOBF TO RESPOND. ONE OF THE MOST URGENT NEEDS EXPRESSED BY GOBF OFFICIALS IS FOR POLYETHENE WATER TANKS TO PROVIDE POTABLE WATER AT A NUMBER OF THE DISPLACED PEOPLE SITES. TO RESPOND TO THIS NEED, THE CHARGE REQUESTS THE IMMEDIATE CONTRIBUTION OF 50,000 USD FOR THE PURCHASE OF 5,000, 3,000 AND 2,000 LITER POLYTANKS (COSTING FROM $630 TO $1,740 PER UNIT). THE EMBASSY PROPOSES TO PROCURE THESE TANKS UNDER A PURCHASE ORDER FROM LOCAL VENDORS AND USE THE BURKINA RED CROSS AND/OR CRS FOR THEIR PLACEMENT AND MANAGEMENT. 7. THESE PORTABLE WATER TANKS WILL BE FILLED AS OFTEN AS NEED FROM CITY WATER SOURCES AND TRUCKED TO THE SITES WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED BY GOBF, WHICH SAYS IT HAS ENOUGH TRUCKS FOR THIS PURPOSE. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT A 5,000-LITER TANK CAN PROVIDE DRINKING WATER TO 1,000 PEOPLE PER DAY. THESE TANKS REPRESENT ONLY PART OF TOTAL NUMBER OF WATER TANKS REQUIRED. 8. THE EMBASSY WILL WORK WITH THE FLOOD DISASTER RESPONSE COORDINATION GROUP THAT HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE UNDP TO ENSURE THESE TANKS ARE UTILIZED WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED THE MOST. AT THE END OF THIS RELIEF EFFORT, THE TANKS WILL BE KEPT BY THE GOBF DISASTER UNIT OR UNICEF FOR FUTURE EMERGENCY USE. PLEASE CONFIRM CONCURRENCE AND PROVIDE ADVICE FOR OBLIGATION OF FUNDS. 9. ONCE MORE INFORMATION ON THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE IS AVAILABLE AND THE NEEDS OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THE FLOODS ARE BETTER KNOWN, EMBASSY WILL LIKELY REQUEST ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR RESPONDING TO THIS SERIOUS DISASTER SITUATION. LAEUCHLI |