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In the early hours of 1 September, Ouagadougou and several other localities, primarily in the Central Plateau region, were hit by torrential rains (263 mm of water). The last time Burkina Faso experienced such high levels of precipitation was in 1919.
Several vital sectors were hard hit by the flooding - housing, public and private buildings, as well as road equipment and infrastructure. 24,489 houses were destroyed, leaving some 150,000 people homeless, and there were unfortunately eight deaths in the city of Ouagadougou alone.
To deal with this dramatic situation, 110 emergency shelters were set up. The main problem, however, still remains that of making them viable, particularly in terms of sanitation – drinking water, lighting, latrines and healthcare. The government also set up a crisis committee to monitor the situation and make an exhaustive assessment of the consequences of this unprecedented rainfall. Provisions were then made for meals to be prepared at shelter sites, with the assistance of private restaurant owners.
However, we now face the problem of finding sufficient quantities of food and cooking utensils to look after people expected to need temporary shelter for over a month.
President Blaise Compaoré launched an appeal for national and international solidarity, and the world has responded. But some of the victims are afraid that the aid won’t reach them. Why is this? And does Burkina Faso have a crisis management plan capable of responding to crises on this scale?
First of all, I would like to thank the many people, acting either individually or through their associations and institutions, as well as our bilateral and multilateral partners, who responded to this appeal. However, I should point out that we need an estimated €10 million in emergency funding and the overall cost of rehabilitation is estimated at more than €100 million.You suggest that some of the victims are afraid that the aid won’t get through to them – I can certainly understand their concern since, as I said earlier, the needs are enormous and victims may well fear that there will not be enough to go around. Despite all the goodwill of the many people who have made donations, I cannot deny that we have still not yet raised enough funds to cover our expected needs.
For the time being, however, the crisis committee is doing its utmost to make sure that aid is sent to where it is most urgently needed; shelter sites are gradually being set up and meals provided on a regular basis. Furthermore, I can assure you that a particular effort is being made to ensure that all aid operations are fully transparent. The Prime Minister has adopted a very firm stance on how this aid is to be managed – any individual engaging in practices that are unethical or that contravene the spirit in which this aid was given will be punished by law. To this end, we have set up a website where people can report any misuse or misappropriation of aid – its address is: www.inondationsauburkina.net
This site is open to all Internet users and provides concrete proof of the good faith of the authorities, who at the same time are urging respect for the public good. This is the first time that Burkina Faso has faced such a disaster, and for that reason all suggestions are welcome.
How has the Burkinan diaspora contributed? Can you give us an initial report on its response?
The natural disaster that struck Burkina Faso on 1 September has further strengthened the bonds of solidarity between Burkinans. Let me give you an example. As soon as the disaster first started to unfold, people spontaneously took victims into their own homes until the government could step in and take charge. This solidarity was also to be seen among Burkinans living abroad. I can assure you that our compatriots living in France did not have to wait for the call for national and international solidarity – they immediately launched initiatives, both individually and through their respective associations. Some even worked with the media to ensure that Burkina's voice was properly heard.
The Burkinan diaspora is really very active and we continue to receive contributions of all kinds. To channel this aid we have set up a committee at the embassy to co-ordinate all relief activities. Someone is on hand every day to provide the information the public needs and also to receive donations. I am very pleased with the commitment shown by our compatriots, who during this catastrophe have once again demonstrated their patriotism and their unreserved devotion to the national cause.
Do you think that the rains are a direct consequence of climate change? What could be done to help the region adapt to climatic variability? Have you drawn any lessons from this experience that could serve as input to discussions at the World Summit on Climate Change due to be held in Copenhagen in December?
This natural phenomenon concerns not only Burkina Faso but also other countries in the sub-region such as Senegal, Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Ghana and Togo. According to the experts, it is a cyclical phenomenon that our African climatologists, who lack the resources to make accurate forecasts, find it hard to assess properly. We must therefore draw the appropriate conclusions and in future pay greater attention to such events in our master plans for territorial development. This natural disaster may well have been sent as a warning to us, as there can be no guarantee that the Sudano-Sahelian region will not experience further weather disturbances in the future.
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