O 281759Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY PRAIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1860
INFO AMEMBASSY DAKAR IMMEDIATE 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 
USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 
USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 0028
USMISSION UN ROME IMMEDIATE 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
AFRICOM
DIA WASHINGTON DC
NSC WASHINGTON DC
AMEMBASSY PRAIA

UNCLAS PRAIA 000204 
 
AIDAC 
 
STATE ALSO PASS USAID/W 
DAKAR FOR USAID/OFDA RDAVIS AND SSOBOL 
USAID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA LPOWERS 
USAID/W FOR AFR/AA, DCHA/FFP, DCHA/OFDA 
STATE FOR AF 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
USUN FOR OFDA REPRESENTATIVE 
BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN 
ROME FOR USAID/OHA HSPANOS 
SECDEF FOR SOLIC 
JOINT STAFF WASHDC FOR J3/J4/J5 
USAFRICOM 
NSC FOR CPRATT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM SOCI EAID PREF CV
SUBJECT: DECLARATION OF DISASTER FOR FLOODING IN SAO NICOLAU, CAPE 
VERDE 
 
¶1.  This is an action request.  Please see paragraph 9. 
 
¶2.  SUMMARY:  Torrential rains have fallen on the island of Sao 
Nicolau, Cape Verde, during September and October 2009, causing 
flooding that has killed at least three people, displaced at 
least 41 families, and destroyed homes, personal property, and 
basic infrastructure.  The Chief of Mission has determined that 
this disaster is beyond the capability of the host government to 
respond, that it is of sufficient magnitude to warrant US 
government assistance, and that it is in the best interest of 
the US government to provide assistance.  The Chief of Mission 
is therefore exercising her disaster assistance authority to 
request USD 25,000.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  Over the last two months, three waves of heavy rain fell on 
the mountainous and normally arid island of Sao Nicolau, one of 
nine inhabited islands comprising the Republic of Cape Verde. 
The rain was so intense at times that, according to an official 
source, more than 40 inches of precipitation fell in less than 
36 hours in the island's capital city, Ribeira Brava.  Moreover, 
the precipitation fell on steep, dry hillsides, causing flooding 
and landslides. 
 
¶4.  Until recently, the government and local Red Cross had been 
able to adequately respond by finding temporary housing and 
providing some basic needs for those affected.  On October 20, 
however, another wave of rain arrived that crippled the host 
nation's capacity to address the disaster effectively, and 
prompted the state radio station to declare the situation 
"catastrophic."  On October 27, even more rain fell, further 
aggravating relief efforts and damaging a main road that has 
already been repaired twice since the rains began. 
 
¶5.  The heavy rains and floods have caused extensive suffering, 
including loss of life.  According to the Red Cross, at least 
three people were killed when a landslide buried them alive. 
The Red Cross also documented 41 families in the Ribeira Brava 
area alone, comprising 154 people, that lost property to the 
flooding, the large majority of which suffered serious damage to 
their homes.  Some houses collapsed entirely or in part, others 
were inundated with water or mud, and still more suffered enough 
structural damage to render them unfit to live in.  Although 
many families are living with friends or relatives, these 
accommodations are just temporary solutions.  Those unlucky 
enough to be without friends or family nearby have been forced 
either to stay in their homes despite the unsanitary and unsafe 
conditions, or in the case of one 77-year-old man, to sleep in 
the local jail.  Moreover, many of those affected lack basic 
items such as blankets, mattresses, cleaning supplies, and 
cooking utensils, which were washed away or destroyed by the 
rains.  Press reports calculate the total cost of the damage as 
exceeding USD 33 million. 
 
¶6.  The relatively poor economic situation of many affected 
residents has compounded their suffering.  The two dominant 
industries in Sao Nicolau are farming and fishing, which are 
next to impossible to do in bad weather.  The average Cape 
Verdean citizen is not wealthy-earning just $3,200 per year 
according to the latest State Department Background Note-and 
most of the economic activity in the country is located on other 
islands.  Further, at least 15 of the documented victims are 
over 60 years old, the oldest of which is an 85-year-old woman, 
and at least three have physical disabilities. 
 
¶7.  A Red Cross report also expresses concern over the medical 
situation on the island.  The report cites a lack of medical 
supplies and personnel, and notes that additional cases of 
diarrhea have appeared due to unsanitary conditions.  In 
 
addition, the incidence of both malaria and dengue fever is 
increasing country-wide, including on Sao Nicolau, and the 
continued rains are creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes. 
 
¶8.  Both the local government and the Red Cross welcome US 
assistance.  The Red Cross will use all US aid money to purchase 
basic goods for victims such as sleeping mats/mattresses, 
bedclothes, cooking pots, and cleaning supplies, the cost of 
which is estimated to be USD 25,000.  This will immediately 
begin to alleviate the suffering of the residents of Sao Nicolau 
affected by the flooding, so that the local government - already 
overextended and in incapable of continuing to simultaneously 
provide basic relief, rebuild roads, and reconstruct homes - may 
focus on longer-term reconstruction. 
 
¶9.  ACTION REQUEST.  The Ambassador believes that it is in the 
best interest of the USG to alleviate the human suffering caused 
by the disaster.  Therefore, the Ambassador is exercising her 
disaster assistance authority to request that OFDA release USD 
25,000 for immediate relief efforts.  This money will be 
provided to the Red Cross for the purposes described in 
paragraph 8.  END ACTION REQUEST. 
MYLES