OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Djibouti - Toxic Pollution
25 March 2002


Needs identified by the UNDAC mission

Situation

1. Following the request of the Government of Djibouti for international
assistance on 26 February, a United Nations Disaster Assessment and
Co-ordination (UNDAC) team was dispatched between 04 and 12 March 2002 to
further assess the toxic spill of chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a wood
preservative and fungicide, at the Port of Djibouti.

2. Nearly three months after the spill was initially discovered on 9
January, the leak has still not been secured. A total of fifteen sea
containers were found leaking and subsequently removed to a secure site.
However, manipulation of the containers in an effort to secure the leak
resulted in the contamination this site, plus four other sites within the
Port area (map attached). Efforts are therefore focussed on securing the
leaking containers and cleaning up of the five sites, including
decontamination (material and soil) and relocation of the contaminated
material.

3. Health concerns in the community are increasing, in particular with the
threat of the rainy season coming and the overall lack of communication on
possible health effects and consequences of the CCA spill. According to
the latest figures by WHO, as many as 350 persons have claimed to have
been exposed. So far, there has been at least one death, though a direct
link to chemical exposure has yet to be established.

4. The components of CCA, an acid-based product containing chromium,
copper, and arsenic are highly toxic, corrosive and may cause cancer. The
product is a mixture of metallic salts used as a wood preservative, to
protect wood from decay by microbes, fungi and wood-feeding insects.  The
prolonged presence of CCA in groundwater and the possible impact on marine
environment is of great concern.


National and international response

5. The national authorities and the port of Djibouti have implemented
virtually all recommendations of an FAO expert who assessed the site in
early February, in order to secure the contaminated areas (as specified in
OCHA Situation Report No1). However, the product is still leaking and
further action is required.  Assessment of the situation has indicated
that Djibouti does not have the technical expertise to manage the
situation beyond what had been already undertaken.

6. The UNDAC Team presented a plan of Action involving six priorities:
securing the leak, determining the volume and addressing the management of
the contaminated soil and waste, establishing a destocking zone, the
establishment of a communication plan to allay the fears the port workers
and citizens of Djibouti, and appropriate medical follow up with respect
to those who have been, or have potentially, been impacted by the product
(The plan of Action is available on internet http://www.reliefweb.int).

7. The follow-up to these recommendations is being carried out by a Swiss
ecotoxicologist from the Canton of Geneva, sent on 05 March 2002 with the
UNDAC team. He is currently closely working with the national and the port
authorities to stop the leaks and establish a destocking zone to
accommodate contaminated waste and soil. Co-ordination and communication
have greatly improved in the last weeks a number of concrete measures have
already been successfully implemented.

8. The arrival of a health expert from the Centre for Toxicology in
Quebec, sent by WHO this week, will provide an assessment of the health
consequences and recommendations for control measures, in co-ordination
with national authorities.

9. The Canton of Geneva has provided protection suits (100 Tyvek suits)
with gloves and 30 arsenic antidote that were brought by the
ecotoxicologist.

10. A United States assessment mission from the Agency for toxic Substance
and Disease Registry (Centre for Disease Control of Atlanta, Georgia) and
OFDA visited Djibouti early March and will soon provide personal
protective clothing, with full face respirator as well as monitoring
equipment to assess the chemical pollution. The equipment has an estimated
value of USD 43,500.

11. UNDP has released USD 50,000 to facilitate the implementation of the
first steps to address the CCA leaks. OCHA has made available USD 25,000
as an emergency grant to assist the UNRC in the phase 1, for purchase of
protection equipment to secure the leak and prevent further spill that
could endanger the port workers lives.


Needs

12. On Tuesday 19 March, OCHA organised an information-sharing meeting in
Geneva to the main donors countries on the outcome of the mission and main
needs identified. A list of needs has been established (budget attached).

13. Due to the lack of local expertise and the absence of the necessary
financial resources, international assistance should focus on the
following most pressing needs:

 - Expert Hazmat team (full equiped)                     in-kind
 - Plastic overpack drums                                  1,750
 - Flexible bags for recovery of dry contaminated debris     400


14. Urgent action is required before start of the April rainy season
causing the spread of contamination, and further threaten public health.
According to the experts, this may provoke casualties and extensive damage
to the environment.

15. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva,
as indicated below, on eventual assistance/pledges/contributions and their
corresponding values, if applicable.

16. OCHA will continue to work in close collaboration with the UNDP Office
in Djibouti, and will revert with further information to be provided by
the UNDAC Team in cooperation with relevant UN agencies.

17. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
      Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  (GVA) Ms. Patricia Charlebois / Mr. Max Bonnel
        Direct Tel. +41 22 917 1815 / 1457
  (NYC) Ms. Rosa Malango, +1212 963 23 80


Press contact:
 (GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs  direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
 (NYC) Ms. Phyllis Lee  direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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