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Flood Relief for Burkina Faso
by Alan Dixon, SIM Burkina Faso, Area Director
30 November 2009 It's been nearly 12 weeks since the flood. The rains have stopped and the dry season is setting in with increasing dust and moderating temperatures. Life in Ouagadougou, although far from normal for 100,000 of its inhabitants, seems to have resumed its normal rhythm. Many of those staying in the 88 government shelters have found alternate housing, staying with friends, neighbors and relatives and in some cases rebuilding. The rest, maybe 30-40%, have relocated to 14 government shelters, most living in tents. We visited three of these tent cities a few weeks ago to see first hand the conditions there and to determine where we may continue to contribute to any persistent needs. For the most part basic needs are being cared for, although problems related to such a large displacement of people, often far from their previous homes, are obvious. In two of the three centres, primary schools have been erected and life seems to be carrying on with some degree of normalcy. Preparation of meals is done in communal kitchens, adequate for the most part, with the World Food Program, Cathwell, and the Burkina Government providing most of the food. Organization seems good and health concerns are being cared for to a great degree. Our interventions over the last four weeks have been focused on isolated cases where holes have appeared and where we had enough knowledge of the situation to be able to plug them, mostly with food aid and some building materials. The big question being asked is where to eventually house those who have been relocated in these 14 tent cities scattered around the city. The Prime Minister, in a press conference on October 15, said that even those who have been relocated must find some other place to live by November 30. The reason given for this deadline is the increasing possibility of epidemic as the harmattan season arrives ... and its accompanying dust, respiratory illnesses, and meningitis outbreaks. The government has clarified that they will not rebuild peoples' homes and that people will not be allowed to rebuild in many of the flooded areas. The plan is that building lots in newly developing areas of the city, about 15,000 of them, will be attributed to those who were previously living in the most flood-prone areas. Those homeowners who lost their homes will be allocated a building lot and up to 280,000 cfa (about $700) worth of building materials with which to rebuild. Those who were in rented houses that collapsed will receive compensation of 50,000 cfa ($125) per household to help with relocation. Those who had taken refuge outside of government shelters have been encouraged to make themselves known and will receive rations of rice and other goods to help in their re-establishment. Over the next few weeks we will continue to help with particular needs identified in at least one of the remaining shelters. We will also be working to identify those who we can help in reconstruction, focusing again on those who are least able to provide for themselves. Although the government is making big efforts to help its population, the amount being given to help each family in rebuilding is minimal compared to the need. One person commented yesterday that what the government is planning to contribute in building materials will build them a kitchen but not the rest of the house. Please pray for the people of Ouagadougou as they continue to overcome obstacles to reconstruction. Pray for us, particularly for wisdom in making choices, as we continue to work with churches and others here in Ouaga to meet needs as we are able.
Many thanks to many who have made gifts to help with this need. Donations can still be sent through SIM offices, designated for Ouagadougou Flood Relief, BF 93918. ------------------------------September 4, 2009 It seems that the city of Ouagadougou just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. On September 1, a strong tropical storm system stalled over Ouagadougou. It started to rain about 4:30 in the morning, a nice gentle rain for over an hour. About 6:00, the time we usually get out of bed, the downpour started and continued off and on till about 4:00 in the afternoon. The metrological service registered 97 mm (about 4 inches) of rain between 7:00 and 8:00 AM, an incredible downpour. The rainfall recorded by 4:00 PM was 263 mm (over 10 inches) for the day.
This is the highest one day rainfall in recorded history in Burkina Faso. On August 31,1914, 246 mm were recorded in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second largest city. The previous highest one-day recorded rainfall for Ouagadougou was 120 mm in 1953. There was likely some variation throughout the city which may account for varied reports. Ouaga has several low areas and water courses with damage particularly significant in those areas.
Just after noon Alison and I went to Paspanga, an area of town about 4 km from our house, to help out the family of a church member there—carrying two of his children and some of their personal effects back to the SIM compound. Water was rising in his yard, but had not yet entered his house. Water had backed up about six city blocks at that point. We were able to wade through water to a nearby office building under construction where we went up to the fifth floor to survey the damage. A widespread area was flooded and the EE-SIM church, several blocks away, was under about 8 feet of water. It is located just one block from the floodway, downstream from one of Ouagadougou’s dams, which itself was under two feet of water. This is one of the areas where many houses fell. We heard one fall quite close by while we were loading up the car for this family. This is one of the rare times that we have seen hundreds of people in the streets in the pouring rain. Electricity was cut for several hours as the main diesel generating station located in the sector of Paspanga was also flooded. Our power was restored at 8 p.m. the same day and for many the next day, but some are still without power. The water treatment plant at Paspanga was also flooded and shut down. This has resulted in no water in some areas of the city and very low pressure in others. The official word from ONEA (the government water service) is that they are having difficulties, but do have adequate reserves. The main hospital, Yalgado, is not far from the same dam. Its back wall came down and several of the buildings of the hospital compound were flooded. Many patients were evacuated to other hospitals in town. Clean-up is underway but damage, particularly to equipment, is extensive. There was no serious damage for SIM workers, although one of our guys had a couple of inches of water throughout his house—water running in from the street. A wall fell down at another worker’s house, resulting in minor damage to two vehicles. Several of our Burkinabé staff had some damage to their homes and one’s car was engulfed in water after getting caught in the flood-waters while attempting to get to work. We are thankful for God’s protection and pray that those much less fortunate will get the help they need.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?Pray
GiveSIM Burkina has set up a relief fund to begin helping people in need. For now it is initial emergency aid, but within a few days we will be looking at helping with housing and other needs ... particularly for those in SIM-related churches and their neighbors. We will rely on the local Pastor`s committee to help determine needs and distribution. Any financial help will be appreciated. Gifts can be made through any SIM office for the Ouagadougou Flood Relief project (93918). It's going to take a long time for this to go away. Thank you for your partnership with us. 
 
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