FY 2010 RENEWAL OF DISASTER DECLARATION FOR FLOODING IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OUAGADOUGOU 000872

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREL PHUM ZI UV
SUBJECT: FY 2010 RENEWAL OF DISASTER DECLARATION FOR FLOODING IN
BURKINA FASO

OUAGADOUGO 00000872 001.6 OF 002

REFS:
A) OUAGADOUGOU 694
B) OUAGADOUGOU 753

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SUMMARY
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1. SUMMARY. On September 2, post declared a disaster due to the
effects of severe flooding in the capital, Ouagadougou, following
unusually heavy rain on September 1 (ref A). In response, the USG
has provided nearly USD 2.3 million in emergency assistance to date,
including more than USD 1.5 million from USAID's Office of U.S.
Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) and more than USD 750,000
from USAID's Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP). However, ongoing
difficulties concerning relocation of the approximately 53,000
displaced people currently sheltering in temporary sites, due in
part to limited Government of Burkina Faso (GoBF) capacity, could
necessitate additional assistance in the weeks and months to come.
Accordingly, post re-declares a disaster for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010
due to ongoing humanitarian needs. END SUMMARY.

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CURRENT DISPLACEMENT AND RELOCATION PLANS
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2. On September 2, post declared a disaster due to the effects of
severe flooding in the capital, Ouagadougou, following unusually
heavy rain on September 1 (ref A). Following the floods,
approximately 53,000 displaced people sought shelter in 88 temporary
sites, mostly schools. In addition, an estimated 40,000 people are
sheltering with host families. To ensure a timely start to the
school year on October 1, the GoBF began relocating displaced people
from the 88 temporary sites to five new temporary sites on September

23. Of the new relocation sites, the largest is the Hippodrome, a
sports arena. As of September 28, the U.N. Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that the Hippodrome
was housing 2712 people. Provisionally, the GoBF has identified 32
additional relocation sites throughout the city, bringing the total
to 37 new sites.


3. Although the GoBF has begun relocating displaced people out of
schools, early-stage preparation of shelter and water, sanitation,
and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure has begun in only 10 of the 37 new
temporary sites. Currently, many of the new sites do not afford
displaced people sufficient access to basic WASH services, according
to USAID/OFDA staff, and the sites will not provide adequate or safe
shelter as presently constituted during the coming months. Given
limited GoBF capacity to meet WASH and other humanitarian needs in
the new sites, additional USG assistance may be required.

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EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO DATE AND NEW HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
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4. To date, the USG has provided nearly USD 2.3 million in
emergency assistance in response to the floods, including more than
USD 1.5 million from USAID/OFDA and more than USD 750,000 from
USAID/FFP. USAID/OFDA assistance includes support for interventions
in agriculture and food security, economic recovery and market

OUAGADOUGO 00000872 002.4 OF 002


systems, and WASH, including the provision of 30 water storage units
at some of the 88 previous relocation sites. USAID/OFDA has also
supported the provision of emergency relief supplies. USAID/OFDA
support to date is benefiting approximately 125,000 flood-affected
individuals. In addition, USAID/FFP approved the redirection of
approximately 734 metric tons of USAID/FFP-funded food assistance,
valued at more than USD 750,000, towards emergency operations in
response to the floods.


5. In a September 27 visit to one of the school sites, USAID/OFDA
staff noted that some displaced people prefer not to relocate to the
37 new sites due to the distance between the new sites and the
displaced people's former homes or places of employment. As such,
flood-affected individuals will likely require ongoing and
potentially expanded humanitarian assistance to rebuild livelihoods.
In addition, USAID/OFDA staff note the need for support to host
families and communities in order to cope with the volume of
displacement.

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RENEWAL OF DISASTER DECLARATION FOR FY 2010
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6. Given the scope of ongoing humanitarian needs, and pursuant to
Section 062, Volume 2, of the Foreign Affairs Manual and USAID ADS
251, post hereby renews the disaster declaration in response to the
floods for FY 2010. Post finds that it is in the best interests of
the USG to provide continued assistance in response to the disaster
and that it is beyond the capacity of the host government to provide
adequate support to flood-affected and displaced people. In
addition, the GoBF is actively engaging donor nations to seek
additional emergency flood relief, and the GoBF will accept
additional USG humanitarian assistance. Since September 4, a
USAID/OFDA acting senior program officer has been stationed in
Burkina Faso to assess humanitarian needs and to closely monitor
relief efforts in conjunction with post, USAID/West Africa,
USAID/FFP, and humanitarian partners. USAID/OFDA staff will
continue to assess additional humanitarian needs in the weeks and
months to come.

LAEUCHLI