US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI587

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DJIBOUTI 000587 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
USAID/W FOR DCHA AA RWINTER, DAA WGARVELINK, DAA LROGERS; 
DCHA/OFDA THALMRAST-SANCHEZ, JBORNS, MMARX, IMACNAIRN, 
KCHANNELL; DCHA/FFP LLANDIS, SBRADLEY, PMOHAN; AFR/EA 
JSCHNEIDER, SMCCLURE; STATE FOR GJAFFNEY, NGAREY; NAIROBI 
FOR MBEERS, REDSO ASISSON, NESTES, FFULLER; ROME FOR OHA; 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH; NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, PREL, PGOV, SENV, DJ 
SUBJECT: DCHA/OFDA HUMANITARIAN UPDATE ON DJIBOUTI FLOODS 
 
REF: A) DJIBOUTI 567; B) DJIBOUTI 540 
 
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Summary 
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1. (U) This is a USAID/DCHA/OFDA reporting cable, which 
provides analysis on the humanitarian situation in Djibouti, 
following OFDA Regional Advisor's April 15-18 assessment on 
the impact of last week's flash floods. 
 
2. (U) In light of unusually heavy rains, resulting flooding 
and the inability of the host government to adequately 
respond, the US Ambassador declared a disaster in Djibouti 
on April 16 (reftel).  Although estimated deaths are 
expected to be much higher, 51 people are officially 
reported dead, 23 injured, 37 people missing and 9,000 
displaced to date.  United Nations agencies and U.S. and 
French military forces have assisted in emergency relief 
efforts and are working with the Government of Djibouti 
(GODJ) to determine additional needs.  The most pressing 
humanitarian concerns are focused on preventing widespread 
cholera, typhoid and other epidemics which followed similar 
flooding in 1994, and pre-positioned supplies will be 
critical. 
 
3. (U) USAID has responded to the emergency through 
USAID/OFDA's provision of USD 100,000 in international 
disaster assistance funds to the UN World Health 
Organization (WHO) for emergency health kits for cholera and 
diarrhea.  In addition, the U.S. military, in close 
collaboration with French military stationed in Djibouti, 
has provided 100 body bags, six water pumps and emergency 
water storage containers, and infrastructure repair on 
damaged roads and railroads.  DCHA/OFDA and Embassy Djibouti 
believe that the USG response has thus far, reflected an 
appropriate level of emergency support to the flooding 
disaster in Djibouti.  As additional needs emerge for 
mitigation, rehabilitation and recovery efforts, assistance 
from other donors should also be encouraged.  End summary. 
 
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Flooding in Djibouti 
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4. (SBU) On April 13, a combination of torrential rains, 
strong winds and high tides caused flash flooding and the 
River Ambouli to burst its banks.  Although the floods were 
sudden onset, the ground had already been saturated by 
watershed from heavy rains from the Ethiopian highlands. In 
the early hours of the morning, water levels rose several 
meters high within minutes in the Ambouli, Djebel, Gabode 
and Boulaos quarters of the city.  Since most of the 
population was sleeping and caught unprepared, flood waters 
rapidly swept away people and livestock.  The French 
military responded quickly and were able to rescue hundreds 
of people stranded on rooftops.  Although the GODJ has 
officially recovered 51 bodies, many bodies have not yet 
been recovered and the total estimated dead by the local 
population and French military is between 200-350. 
 
5. (U) Heavy damage in several neighborhoods is evident, as 
flood waters destroyed structures and damaged contents of 
homes and businesses.  Water and electricity supply has been 
cut in the most affected areas and damage to infrastructure 
includes breaks in the municipal water system, breaks in the 
railroad into the city and portions of roads and bridges 
leading to the city washed out.  Efforts are underway to 
restore water and electricity, which is expected to be 
available soon.  Rehabilitation work is also underway on the 
damaged roads and railroads, particularly as these represent 
the main trade routes between Djibouti-Ethiopia, and thus, 
the largest revenue generator. 
 
6. (SBU) In the most affected areas, houses were completely 
destroyed, displacing roughly 9,000 people.  The displaced 
have been temporarily sheltered in a primary school, but the 
GODJ reportedly want to resettle the displaced in new areas 
southwest of the city, where there are minimal or non- 
existent services.  International agencies have expressed 
concern about humanitarian implications if the GODJ moves 
forward without sufficient planning. 
 
7. (SBU) Much of the city's poor population lives in densely 
populated shantytowns (reftel).  Although water is beginning 
to recede, areas of the city with lower elevation have over 
a meter of water remaining.  With the resulting clean water 
shortages, stagnant muddy water already contaminated by 
livestock carcasses and broken sewage pipes, and 
environmental damage from the flood, the threats of epidemic 
prone diseases such as cholera are of pressing concern, 
particularly since water and vector borne diseases are 
already endemic in Djibouti.  (Note: the last major flood 
here occurred in 1994 and an estimated 120 people died. 
Following the 1994 floods, an outbreak of 8,000 cases of 
cholera and 32 deaths were registered.  End note.) 
 
8.  (U) The UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the 
Ministry of Health (MOH) estimate that 10,000 people in 
affected flooded areas are particularly vulnerable to a 
cholera epidemic, based on current conditions and 
similarities to the 1994 floods.  The floods have also 
disrupted provision of basic health services due to the 
total or partial destruction of main health care facilities 
in the area, notably the centers in Farahad, Ibrahim Balala, 
Arhiba and Amouli, which cover a population of 90,000 
people.  Medical equipment, drugs, cold chain and nutrition 
substitution stocks were lost.  The MOH is heading a health 
emergency group, which includes the UN, to rapidly re- 
establish basic health services in the affected areas, 
install emergency surveillance for epidemic prone diseases 
and strengthen preparedness for the expected cholera 
outbreak.  A response plan for cholera outbreaks has been 
developed by the MOH. 
 
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Emergency Response to Date 
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9. (SBU) Due to limited disaster response capacities within 
the country, a strongly coordinated multi-sectoral emergency 
response has not been evident outside of international 
organizations and the military. The strongest GODJ efforts 
have come from the MOH, who have developed emergency health 
response plans with WHO, repaired damaged health clinics and 
sent out mobile health teams for surveillance of epidemics. 
While the GODJ has clearly indicated that it will coordinate 
all relief efforts, international agencies are working hard 
to bolster these efforts.  Emergency assistance provided to 
date by various agencies includes: 
 
A) USAID: USD 100,000 provided by USAID/OFDA in response to 
the Ambassador's disaster declaration.  Disaster funds will 
be immediately channeled through the WHO for emergency 
health kits.  Emergency medical kits are expected to arrive 
by the end of the week from pre-positioned WHO stockpiles. 
Other development funds may be reprogrammed by USAID for 
mitigation and recovery efforts depending on the needs and 
priorities of the GODJ.  [Note: other donors have not yet 
provided funding for relief efforts, however the European 
Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) conducted a rapid 
assessment of the situation last week and may consider 
providing assistance pending identified needs. End note.] 
 
B) French Military: initial assistance included rescue of 
people stranded in the floods, utilizing heavy equipment to 
clear damaged railroads and roads, particularly along the 
Djibouti to Ethiopia road; removal of bodies and provision 
of body bags. Although the French military, assisted by the 
U.S. military, had begun working on repair of the city water 
supply system, the military has been pulled off working on 
the system and the Djiboutians have officially taken over 
repairs.  Recently aired French TV documentaries over the 
alleged political assassination of French Judge Bernard 
Borrel in 1994 led to heightened political sensitivities 
(detailed septel), which has impacted some relief efforts 
underway by the military. 
 
C) U.S. Military: in close coordination with the French 
military, the U.S. military has assisted in repairing 
damaged road, railroad and water supply infrastructure, 
provided 100 body bags, six water pumps and 350-gallon water 
storage containers, as well as sent medical teams out to 
sample the water and monitor health indicators. 
 
D) UN Country Team: WHO, UNDP, UNICEF and WFP are 
coordinating closely to determine additional needs for 
emergency and recovery responses.  The UN has requested 
disaster funds from their respective agency headquarters, 
which will be channeled into a coordinated response effort, 
addressing gaps not covered by other donors. 
 
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Comment 
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10. (SBU) Despite political undercurrents and the GODJ 
desire to be seen as the only one leading and responding in 
the disaster efforts, stronger government capacity to manage 
disasters is needed since the country will always be 
vulnerable to climatic shocks. 
 
11. (SBU) Djibouti's greatest challenge continues to be 
underlying poverty, which is compounded by a wide range of 
structural constraints, particularly its limited natural and 
human resources and arid climate.  The economy remains 
fragile and UNDP estimates that Djibouti's per capita GDP 
has decreased in the past five years.  Many of the overall 
problems that Djibouti faces stem from chronic poverty and 
vulnerability. 
 
12. (SBU) DCHA/OFDA and Embassy Djibouti believe that the 
USG response has reflected an appropriate level of emergency 
support to the flooding disaster in Djibouti.  As additional 
needs emerge for mitigation, rehabilitation and recovery 
efforts, assistance from other donors should be encouraged. 
USAID and Embassy Djibouti will continue to closely monitor 
the humanitarian situation.  RAGSDALE