Agency for Washington D.C. International 20523 Development
BENIN - Floods FY 1988
Date The Disaster declared the rural districts of Malanville, September 1988 Unusually heavy rain caused flooding of the Niger Karimama, Quinlin, Savalou, and Zagnanado Location River on Benin's northern border and the Zou disaster areas on Sept. 7 and charged concerned Karimama and and Oueme rivers in the country's interior. ministries with taking action. The National Malanville districts Official estimates indicated that 22,000 people Committee for Civil Protection, under the Interior in Borgou Province were affected in the northern districts of Ministry, coordinated the GPRB response. Army and Zagnanado, Ouinhi, and Savalou Malanville and Karimama with another 46,000 units established emergency headquarters at districts in Zou victims in the central districts of Ouinhi, Savalou, Bohicon in Zou Province and at Kandi in Borgou Province and Zagnanado. Some flooding also occurred in Province to assist in relief efforts. Health workers the city of Parakou and in low-lying areas of established treatment centers and labored at No. Dead None reported Atlantique Province, including parts of the capital getting medical supplies to the flooded zones. of Cotonou. Although cresting waters isolated No. Affected some villages and rendered 16,000 homeless, there Disaster items furnished by the G PRB included 68,000 people vehicles, tents, mobile kitchens, mattresses, affected, ofwhom appeared to be little loss of life. The inundations i6,000 were damaged or destroyed housing, roads, livestock, blankets, first-aid supplies, and food from homeless 25,000 MT of grain stocks, and 30,000 ha. of emergency stocks. Zagnanado, Ouinhi, cropland. The most seriously affected population Karimama, and Malanville districts received initial Damage Cattle, at least included fishermen and market gardeners who distributions. The country's business community 30,000 ha. of crops, could not get their goods to market due to aided with extensive donations of goods and cash. and 25,000 MT of impassable secondary roads. It was expected that Nevertheless, an insufficiency of supplies led the grain were lost while reduced supplies from crop damage and GPRB to convoke a meeting of foreign missions houses and roads were destroyed or disruption of transportation would increase corn and relief agency representatives on Sept. 13 and sustained damage. prices in the areas of Cotonou, Porto Novo, and request international assistance. Two days later, Abomey. government officials arranged a visit for donors to view the damage in Zagnanado District. The flooding produced serious secondary health effects. Health authorities reported increased rates of malaria, dysentery, and respiratory disease Assistance Provided by the U.S. Government in the stricken zones. By Sept. 20, over 900 Because of the heavy rain and flooding, U.S. people had sought medical treatment from the Ambassador Walter E. Stadtler issued a disaster emergency at a temporary field hospital in declaration for Benin on Sept. 16. USAJD / Zagnanado. However, epidemics did not occur Cotonou used $25,000 in emergency funds to and the number of cases subsided soon thereafter donate antibiotics and treatment solutions for to seasonal norms. malaria and respiratory and diarrheal disease. The medicine was purchased from two local manufacturers--Bio-Benin Laboratorie Action Taken by the Government of the Pharmaceutique and Pharmaquick Industrie People's Republic of Benin (GPRB) and Pharmaceutique--and was delivered to the Non-Governmental Organizations National Committee for Civil Protection on Sept. As news of the disaster became known, national 27 and Oct. 3. USAID /Cotonou also released 700 and local authorities combined forces with donor groups to obtain more precise information and make long-term assessments. The GPRB MT of corn from the Section 416 feeding program Fed. Rep. of Germany Red Cross - provided tents for emergency use at a cost of $130,000. and blankets to the Beninois Red Cross.
Total OFDA ...... $25,000 France Red Cross - provided tents and blank ets to Total Food for Peace ...... $130,000 the Beninois Red Cross.
TOTAL $155,000 Swiss Cooperation - contributed mattresses, blankets, and tents, valued at $146,666.
Assistance Provided by U.S. Voluntary TOTAL $741,870 Agencies Catholic Relief Services - contributed 3,000 sacks of corn-soya milk and 1,000 containers of vegoil.
Assistance Provided by the International Community
International Organizations U.N. Development Program/U .N. Disaster Relief Organization - furnished medicine and logistical support, valued at $20,000.
U. N. Food and Agriculture Organization - funded rehabilitation projects for peasant farmers, valued at $10,000, and provided onion and potato seed to farmers in Karimama District.UNICEF - gave medicine, tents, and blankets, worth $26,000.
World Food Program - donated 450 MT of food.
World Health Organization - contributed 20 emergency health kits.
Governments France - donated medicine, clothing, and blankets, valued at $16,666.
Germany, Fed. Rep. - furnished mattresses, blankets, and medicine, worth $27,777.
Italy - contributed 2,500 MT of corn fl our.
Nigeria - provided food, valued at $238,095.
Togo - gave $250,000.
Non-Governmental Organizations Fonds Africain de Garantie Commercial et Economique - donated medicine and food, worth $6,666.