United Nations and partners seek $5.9 million for Burkina Faso floods

(New York, 26 October 2007): Today, the United Nations and partner organizations issued a flash appeal for $5.9 million to assist 93,000 people in Burkina Faso, a West African country with 13 million inhabitants, following this summer's flooding, some of the worst in decades.

This year's floods affected a number of countries in the West Africa region. Among the most affected countries in the sub-region are survivors in three Sahelien countries - 93,000 in Burkina Faso, 57,000 in Niger and 42,000 in Mali.

According to the Government in Burkina Faso, almost 9,000 homes, 50 bridges, over 2,300 cereal warehouses, and 17,698 hectares of crops have been destroyed. To date, 46 people have been killed and 76 wounded.

Following the floods, emergency humanitarian operations were initiated by the government, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This response enabled relief workers to immediately address the most pressing requirements. However, additional humanitarian needs remain. In addition, flood affected people also require assistance in regaining their livelihoods, and basic services require rehabilitation. This approach is required in order to reduce the vulnerability of affected households and reduce the growing potential for a large scale humanitarian crisis resulting from the continued and rapid degradation of living conditions of affected populations, including host families.

Funds from the appeal will support food security, including activities in support of agriculture and husbandry. The appeal will also support health care, including preventive medicine and basic care to prevent and address waterborne diseases. The funds will provide support in education for vulnerable households, improve access to safe water and sanitation, support the rehabilitation of basic shelter, and provide non-food items. Governmental institutions, the United Nations, NGOs and the Burkina Red Cross will undertake these projects.

The United Nations Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) has already released $878,000 to support household food security and prevent child malnutrition.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.