VZCZCXRO8291
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0791/01 2731549
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301549Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5356
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0310
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0209
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME 0005
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0009
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NIAMEY 000791 
 
SIPDIS 
AIDAC 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, AND AF/PDPA 
PLS PASS USAID AFR/WA FOR NFREEMAN, LDOORES-FENDELL, GBERTOLIN 
OFDA/W FOR ACONVERY, CCHAN, FSHANKS, MSHIRLEY, JMCINTOSH 
FFP/W FOR JBORNS, ASINK, TMCRAE 
ACRA ALSO FOR AFR/WA 
DAKAR FOR RDAVIS 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
ROME FOR US MISSION RNEWBERG, HSPANOS 
BRUSSELS FOR USAID PBROWN 
NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO 
NSC FOR CPRATT 
 
E.O.  12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREL PHUM PGOV NG
SUBJECT:  USAID/OFDA FIELD REPORT AGADEZ:  POST-FLOOD EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE AND CHALLENGES 
 
REF:  NIAMEY 00639 
 
NIAMEY 00000791  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  In the wake of September 2 flash floods affecting the city of 
Agadez and nearby rural communes of Dabaga, Tchirozerine, and 
Tabelot, representatives from USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign 
Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) and the European Community 
Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) conducted a joint assessment of 
current assistance and flood damage.  The September 22-24 visit 
found that at present, response efforts appear to be meeting the 
basic humanitarian needs of the 850 displaced families in Agadez 
city.  Although gaps remain, the population of approximately 42,000 
urban flood-affected appears out of immediate danger. 
 
¶2.  Government of Niger (GoN) security restrictions outside Agadez 
seriously hinder the provision of assistance in Dabaga, 
Tchirozerine, and Tabelot rural communes.  The GoN's short-term 
focus on relocating displaced families out of schools and directive 
style in doing so is resulting in compartmentalization of responses 
and has stalled the humanitarian response in the initial emergency 
phase.  Near-term priorities include the expansion of humanitarian 
assistance to populations not yet supported and the provision of 
more flexible assistance to urban populations allowing the 
resumption of livelihoods activities.  END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------------------------- 
SEPTEMBER 22-23 FIELD ASSESSMENT 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  Prompted by conflicting reports regarding flood-related 
humanitarian needs and adequacy of resources mobilized for the 
response, USAID/OFDA and ECHO representatives conducted a joint 
assessment from September 22-24.  The team of two regional advisors 
met with U.N. and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff, local 
officials, and flood-affected families residing in displaced sites 
in Agadez city.  The team also met with Niamey-based NGOs and U.N. 
representatives of agencies involved in flood assessment and 
response.  The USAID/OFDA-ECHO mission had no access to flood 
affected areas beyond Agadez city limits due to security concerns 
and the GoN requirement of military escorts accompanying travel 
outside Agadez. 
 
----------------------------- 
FLOODING AND RESPONSE TO DATE 
----------------------------- 
 
¶4.  Flash flooding in the early morning of September 2 destroyed the 
Alarces dam 7 km northeast of Agadez city, creating a powerful water 
flow that destroyed houses along a former riverbed by a wave 
reportedly two meters high.  Local residents indicated that the 
September 2 flash flooding was the most devastating flood event 
experienced since 1974.  Floodwaters flowed along a 150 km path 
starting in the Air Mountains above Tabelot, 140 km northeast of 
Agadez, and affecting Tabelot, Dabaga, and Tchirozerine rural 
communes before reaching Agadez city. Mayors north of Agadez quickly 
communicated the impending disaster through cell phone calls to 
colleagues, facilitating life-saving evacuations of households in 
the flood waters' path. 
 
¶5.  Post floods, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of 
Humanitarian Affairs (OHCA) reported two fatalities and one person 
missing.  The GoN estimates that 79,000 individuals or nearly 12,400 
households are affected. (Note:  U.N. agencies and NGOs working in 
the area believe the GoN's flood-affected figures overestimate 
actual numbers.  Given that the Governor rejected initial estimates 
from OCHA and Nigerien Red Cross assessments, however, humanitarian 
actors refer to the GoN figures in order not to delay provision of 
 
NIAMEY 00000791  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
assistance.  End note.) 
 
¶6.  Based on discussions with OCHA, NGOs, and a U.N. Food and 
Agriculture Organization (FAO) team that conducted a September 14-16 
assessment in flood-affected areas, humanitarian needs outside of 
Agadez city revolve around restoring agricultural production. 
Requests for assistance are to reclaim heavily silted gardens, 
re-stock 3655 livestock lost by 301 households in floodwaters, and 
repair 3336 damaged or silt-filled wells prior to the upcoming 
agricultural season, for which planting should begin in early 
October.  To date, security-related issues are hindering provision 
of assistance.  (Note:  A U.N. security team currently is assessing 
areas outside Agadez that have been insecure and a "no go" zone for 
the last two years due to conflict between Tuareg rebel groups and 
the GoN, reported landmines, and banditry.  End note.) 
 
------------------------ 
ASSISTANCE WITHIN AGADEZ 
------------------------ 
 
¶7.  The GoN estimates that within Agadez city approximately 6,500 
families are affected, totaling nearly 42,000 individuals out of an 
urban population of approximately 130,000.  Approximately 850 
displaced families are sheltering in public buildings, of which 731 
are being relocated from schools into two new temporary sites. 
Authorities and humanitarian agencies were preparing the new sites 
with additional tents, latrines, and water points during the 
USAID/OFDA-ECHO assessment.  A third site has been identified, but 
is likely not viable due to being outside of town and beyond the 
city water system.  In general, women and children are sheltering in 
the temporary sites while men choose to stay near their damaged or 
destroyed houses. 
 
¶8.  The team visited several of the 16 distribution points.  In one 
site, registered beneficiaries were receiving tickets for food 
distributions planned for the next day.  At another location, the 
French Red Cross had placed water bladders and latrines directly in 
communities.  The regional stadium, which is currently housing 96 
families, will be the main site for flood displaced relocated from 
schools.  At the stadium, the team observed distributions including 
plastic sheeting, buckets, soap, kitchen sets, blankets, and other 
essential items provided by the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF). 
Mercy Corps staff reported having identified a few flood-affected 
families living off-site that have not yet received support.  Based 
on the GoN's estimated numbers, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) is 
ensuring food for all 79,000 flood-affected during September and 
October. 
 
¶9.  The emergency assistance mobilized to date by local authorities, 
donors, and international relief agencies appears to be meeting the 
most basic humanitarian needs of the flood-affected populations in 
Agadez, and they appear to be stable.  The team noted gaps in 
assistance, particularly the need for more flexible assistance that 
would allow flood-affected families to resume livelihoods. OCHA is 
present to facilitate humanitarian coordination between 
international agencies, displaced and local authorities.  Challenges 
to coordination include compartmentalized GoN sub-committees that 
currently are focused exclusively on a narrow range of temporary 
short-term solutions, and little international agency access or 
involvement in the key decision-making ad-hoc committee, which 
closely holds information and authority.  (Note:  The OFDA-ECHO team 
heard from the U.N. Resident Coordinator after returning to Niamey 
that the GoN has decided to bulldoze the Agadez city areas affected 
by flooding.  No one in Agadez, whether humanitarian agency or 
displaced who are already rebuilding on sites of their former homes, 
seemed aware of this decision.  End note.) 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
TWO FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR TRANSITION SUPPORT 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
NIAMEY 00000791  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶10.  December and January are cold months in the Air Mountains.  The 
GoN envisions displaced families staying in current temporary sites 
for the next three months, the end of which coincides with the onset 
of the cold season.  Despite recent extremely wet weather, both the 
2008 and 2009 growing seasons have been severely affected by 
drought, resulting in serious deficit agricultural and fodder 
production.  Thus, facilitating agricultural production for the 
upcoming short season in tandem with forward planning for the 
upcoming cold season are essential to helping these affected 
populations avoid renewed food insecurity and health issues. 
 
--------------------------- 
OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES 
--------------------------- 
 
¶11.  There are two primary obstacles to the provision of effective 
flood relief, which, conversely, also present opportunities.  The 
first is lack of access to affected populations outside of Agadez 
due to GoN security restrictions stemming from the conflict between 
the GoN and Tuareg rebel groups that started in early 2007.  The 
second is the absence of leadership to consider a wider range of 
longer-term options for flood-affected populations, in order to help 
them relocate, restart livelihoods, and quickly move towards more 
permanent solutions beyond sheltering in displaced sites.  On return 
from Agadez, the USAID/OFDA-ECHO team met with the U.N. Resident 
Coordinator in Niamey to raise these two issues for UN attention and 
a higher level of leadership and intervention.  The U.N. Resident 
Coordinator was aware of both issues and actively engaged in seeking 
new solutions. 
 
----------------------------- 
USAID/ OFDA AND USG ASSISTANCE 
----------------------------- 
 
¶12.  In response to the U.S. Embassy's disaster declaration on 
September 16 (reftel), USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 to support cash 
for work activities that will improve sanitation and hygiene in 
Agadez city.  The USAID/OFDA acting Regional Advisor stationed in 
Ouagadougou mobilized ECHO, which is the other major humanitarian 
donor present in the region for this joint assessment.  Following 
the joint mission, both offices anticipate providing modest 
additional humanitarian assistance in affected communes and are 
coordinating closely for the maximum impact of any additional 
assistance.  The USAID/OFDA regional office in Dakar will continue 
to monitor post-flood transition in conjunction with the U.S. 
Embassy in Niamey, USAID/West Africa, USAID's Office of Food for 
Peace, and humanitarian partners. 
 
¶13.  Note:  OFDA drafted this report; Embassy Niamey clears and 
thanks OFDA for its responsiveness in dealing with this emergency 
situation.  End note. 
 
WHITAKER