OCHA Situation Report
West Africa: Floods
30 October 2007


Around 800,000 people have been affected by floods in 14 countries in
West Africa (Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, Cote d'Ivoire
Senegal, The Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, Sierra Leone, Benin, Ghana
and Guinea)(1) . Among the hardest hit countries are: Ghana (over
332,000 affected), Togo (over 127,900 affected), Burkina Faso (over
92,900 affected), Niger (57,000), Mauritania (53,000) and Mali (over
42,000 affected).

Highlights

United Nations agencies and NGOs in Burkina Faso launched a flash appeal of 5,9
million USD on 26 October.

United Nations agencies in Guinea have received one million USD from the
Central Emergency Response Fund including 362,875 USD for flood affected
people.

To date, the 12 million Flash Appeal for Ghana has been funded up to 3,071,373
USD, including 2,496,956 USD from the CERF and 574,417 USD from Canada (272,000
USD) and Sweden (302,417 USD).

Situation and response

Ghana

Flooding in the Upper East Region, Upper West Region, Northern Region and parts
of the Western Region have affected 332,600 people and caused the death of 56
according to the Government. Some 35,000 houses and 1,500 kilometers and
thousands hectares of crops have been destroyed. On 9 October an appeal for
international assistance was launched by the government for the reconstruction
of flood devastated areas.

Response

So far, the flash appeal of $12,410,000 launched by the United Nations and
partners has been funded up to 3,071,373 USD, including 2,496,956 USD from the
CERF and 574,417 USD from Canada (272,000 USD) and Sweden (302,417 USD).

Humanitarian organisations have started the disinfection of boreholes in the
affected areas, while distribution of water filters and tablets continue. As
for food and nutrition, WFP is conducting assessment on the field to make sure
that all the relevant needs are taken into account. Distribution of food aid is
still on going in the districts.

In order to ensure the functioning of schools in affected areas, the ministry
of Education and Humanitarian partners work together to determine the number of
temporal shelters needed for the relocation. In addition, education actors are
expected to come up with a new temporal classroom design to replace the damaged
ones. Funding is therefore needed to add momentum to education in flood
affected areas. Health experts from WHO headquarters in Geneva have brought
their support at the national level.

IFRC has brought assistance in terms of shelter, relief and public health. The
federation is awaiting non food relief items from Dubai to distribute to the
already identified families. UNHCR has stock of non food items in the country;
the Agency has put its trucks to help move relief items from Accra to the
districts.

Burkina Faso

According to the government, September floods have affected over 93,000 people
in Burkina Faso and caused more than 28,000 displaced and 52 deaths.

Response

On 26 October, the United Nations and partner organizations launched a flash
appeal for $5.9 million to assist 93,000 people. Following the floods,
emergency humanitarian operations were initiated by the government, the United
Nations and NGOs. Despite initial relief assistance delivered by government and
humanitarian actors to flood affected people, additional resources are needed
to cover remaining needs. Funds from the appeal will support food security,
health care, education, access to safe water and sanitation, rehabilitation of
basic shelter, and non-food items. Governmental institutions, the United
Nations, NGOs and the Burkina Red Cross will undertake these projects. Since
the beginning of floods, the government of Burkina Faso has disbursed 1,144,371
USD to assist flood victims.

Guinea

Some 20,000 people are affected by flooods in Guinea, notably in the central
province of Mamou and the northern provinces of Dabola and Dinguiraye.

Response

The Central Emergency Response Fund of the United Nations (CERF) has allocated
362,875 USD for 1,200 flood affected households in Mamou,1,200 in Dabola and
1,000 in Dinguiraye. Funds will be used for an agricultural emergency programme
that will be implemented by FAO in partnership with the Ministry of
Agriculture, Africare and Concern Universal.

Benin

Floods victims are estimated at 10,000. The affected areas are the northern
provinces of Atacora, Donga, Borgou and Alibori; the southern provinces of
Atlantique and Littoral, Mono, Couffo, Oueme and Plateau; and the central
provinces of Zou and Collines.

Response

The government has disbursed over 3,400,000 USD (1,548,786,157 CFA) to respond
to floods. The funds have been used among other things to drain stagnant waters
and disinfect wells; distribute medicines, clean drinking water, food items and
mosquito nets; repair public infrastructures and relocate victims.

OCHA Regional Office in West Africa is centralising existing information and
issuing weekly situation reports. Other documents related to floods in West
Africa are available in OCHA ROWA website at
ochaonline2.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=10305 and www.reliefweb.int/

Note:

(1)  Breakdown of flood related figures is annexed to the report.

For more information, please contact M. Ndiaga Seck at: seckn@un.org or Mrs.
Katy Thiam at: thiamk@un.org

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=8E44F36BB69F8280852573840060BD2A&file=Full_Report.pdf

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -