FY 2010 RENEWAL OF DISASTER DECLARATION FOR FLOODING IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OUAGADOUGOU 000872 PLEASE PASS TO USAID SIPDIS AIDAC AFR/WA FOR NFREEMAN, LDOORES-FENDELL, GBERTOLIN OFDA/W FOR ACONVERY, CCHAN, FSHANKS, MSHIRLEY, JMCINTOSH FFP/W FOR JBORNS, ASINK, TMCRAE DAKAR FOR RDAVIS GENEVA FOR NKYLOH ROME FOR US MISSION RNEWBERG, HSPANOS BRUSSELS FOR USAID PBROWN NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO NSC FOR CPRATT 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 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶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. -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- CURRENT DISPLACEMENT AND RELOCATION PLANS -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶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. -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- USG EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO DATE AND NEW HUMANITARIAN NEEDS -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶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. -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- RENEWAL OF DISASTER DECLARATION FOR FY 2010 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶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