Scope of floods in West Africa
Since July this year floods have been reported in West Africa and as of 21 August, floods have caused around 90,000 victims in seven countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and the Gambia):
– Mali: The Malian Civil Protection Office estimates the number of people affected at 30,000 including 17,900 left homeless. Affected regions are Mopti, Segou and Kayes in the South West of Mali.
– Burkina Faso: the Government and humanitarian organisations estimate that floods have caused 20,000 victims. Affected Provinces are: Kouritenga (Centre); Oubritenga (Plateau Central); Kadiogo (Centre); Houet (Hauts Bassins); Zandoma, Yatenga, Passore, Loroum (North); Bam, Namentenga, Sanmatenga (Centre North); Zoundwego (Centre South); and the Sahel.
– Mauritania: According to humanitarian organizations, some 10,000 people have been affected in the north eastern city of Tintan;
– Niger: The Government estimates the number of flood victims at over 12,200.
Floods in Nigeria (14,000), Côte d’Ivoire (2,000), Senegal (130) and The Gambia (298) have caused less devastation than in Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Burkina.
Every year, West African countries are stricken by floods during the rainy season that lasts from May to October. According to the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), floods affected an average of 260,000 persons per year during the past 25 years. To date, however, critical needs of flood-affected populations have often slipped into neglect and remained largely unmet. A joint assessment mission fielded by the Government and UN agencies last May to the Gorom-Gorom region in Burkina Faso revealed that around 6,000 people affected by the 2006 floods are still in need of food assistance.
It is important to recall that in 2006, some 100,000 persons were affected by floods in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.
Humanitarian consequences
At this time, there is insufficient data to draw up an exhaustive estimation of the humanitarian needs for people affected by floods in the region as assessments are currently underway in most of the countries. Below are highlights from preliminary findings.
Material and subsistence losses
Floods have caused the destruction of houses, food stocks, goods, farms and polluted most of the water sources (wells and canals). This has resulted in the displacement of thousands of people.
Accommodation for those left homeless
Displaced populations are living either with host families or in public infrastructures such as schools and in IDPs camps notably in Mauritania. The school year scheduled to being in September in some of these countries may be delayed due to the occupation of schools by the displaced. In this lean season period, households already face problems to feed their own members and having to host victims of the floods may aggravate further their already precarious food security situation.
Access
Access to affected population remains constrained by the poor condition of some roads (in Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger) and insecurity notably in Iferouane, northern Niger. The situation in Iferouane is of particular concern as humanitarian organisations continue to struggle to respond to the needs of some 500 persons affected by floods and food insecurity. In addition, reports of new landmines being laid around the city are also hindering humanitarian interventions. On 20 August landmines caused the death of four gendarmes in the region. In this regard there is an urgent need for relevant safety measures to be ensured by state and non-state actors to enable the safe provision of humanitarian assistance.
Health
Health authorities and humanitarian actors remain concerned about the possible outbreak of waterborne diseases like cholera and the recrudescence of malaria cases.
Food security
These floods coincide with the most critical time of the year, the lean season when West African families mostly in the Sahel region face food insecurity. The destruction of crop and food stocks has aggravated the vulnerability of poor families and needs to be addressed promptly through emergency and recovery interventions.
Water and sanitation
Potable water is of concern because of the pollution of water sources and the existence of destroyed latrines that are considered to be the vector of possible epidemics.
Humanitarian response
The governments of the affected countries in collaboration with humanitarian organisations are providing victims with basic humanitarian assistance. So far, only the Government of Mauritania has appealed for international aid. The Governments of Mali and Niger have requested assistance from the United Nations teams in respective countries.
Mauritania
On 11 August, the Government of Mauritania launched an appeal for international aid to help cope with the current emergency situation and with the post emergency rehabilitation. The Minister of Finance informed the Diplomatic Corps and the representatives of UN and INGOs that access to water and environmental sanitation were the two major priorities to be addressed in the short term. The UNCT is currently assisting victims at the government’s request.
Mali
On 30 July, the Malian Civil Protection Office addressed a request to the United Nations Country Team in Mali. On 17 August, the United Nations system in Mali provided 14,000 victims in Segou with in kind assistance including 130 Mts of food for a one month period and non-food items (soap, blankets, clothes, mosquito nets, etc).
Niger
After assessments in affected areas, except the northern area which is inaccessible due to insecurity, the Government evaluated the needs of the victims and presented to humanitarian organisations the gaps in the response. United Nations organisations in Niger have committed themselves to fill the gaps identified in terms of food and non food assistance.
Burkina Faso
The findings of assessments carried out by the Government are not yet available. Currently, aid assistance is being delivered by the Government, the Red Cross, United Nations, churches and private individuals. The UNCT is preparing an assessment mission to better identify the needs of victims for further assistance.
In the coming weeks the situation may deteriorate further with high precipitations foreseen by meteorological experts. The capacity of response of Governments and humanitarian actors may reach their limits if new floods occur and consequently additional resources will be needed.
Coordination mechanisms
At country level
Governments and humanitarian organisations have initiated regular meetings for information sharing and the coordination of the response. Committees for flood management have also been established in affected areas.
At regional level
OCHA’s Regional Office for West Africa is centralising existing information and organising coordination meetings on these floods in order to identify gaps that need to be filled in terms of humanitarian assistance. Rapid field assessments in Mauritania and Burkina Faso are planned by the regional office.
