April 30, 2007
Gorom-Gorom Floods Report (Aug 06-Apr 07)
A short report on the Gorom-Gorom floods and the response of the Gorom-Gorom church can be found here.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina flood building gorom sahel emergency housing aid gorom-gorom jesus kingdom of god
March 30, 2007
Wonderful People
These are some of the wonderful people we have been able to build homes following the flood.
It has been a real privilege to get to know them more, and to be able to help a little those who receive such a raw deal and who genuinely needed help. There are so many more people we would have liked to have helped.
Each person has their story.
This is Hama, who I have known for ages, a genuinely nice guy. He still works, walking round town selling stuff, in spite of his age and his deteriorating sight. He had no land to build on, but the mayor of Gorom-Gorom gave him a plot. It was such a thrill to see him getting his own place.
This is Mamadou, one of the people who had the woodless constructions Here he is speaking at the Ceremony of the Keys just before I left. Mamadou nearly didn't get his house, as their was confusion about where it should be built. But again, the mayor helped us sort things out.
One of the biggest frustrations for me in rushing around taking care of the building work, was that I didn't have enough time just to sit and chat more with them. Hopefully when I am next back there, I will be able to do that. Here are photos of most of the others, most of them standing in front of their new homes. Please pray for them, that God will bless them in their new homes, and give them his peace in Christ.
Continue reading "Wonderful People"
February 26, 2007
Cheering for Jesus
It's not often I have been clapped for preaching Jesus - let alone had Muslims enthusiastically applauding. Yet this is exactly what happened last week.
A Full Church
I was about to leave to return to Britain for a while, and the 31 houses for the flood victims were just about finished. A ceremony was proposed for "handing over the keys". I wasn't keen, but the rest of the team thought it was a good idea, so I went with the flow. We also decided that after the ceremony we would surprise the beneficiaries with a sack of millet each so they had food to put in their new homes.
On the day, the church was packed. Half of it was filled with 30 of the beneficiaries - elderly and vulnerable local Muslim folk who had lost their homes in the flood and had no-one to help them. The other half was filled with local dignitaries including the Mayor, the Provincial High Commisioner, the Prefect, the Regional heads of the Army and Police, and various other notables.
On such occasions it is normal just to say a few polite words...
Pah.
A God that welcomes the homeless
I spoke first in Fulfulde, and then in French:
"The God who had provided you with houses is a compassionate God, and it is because of Jesus Christ that you have received his compassion. One day, whether we are ruler or poor, black or white, we will leave our houses. But because of Jesus, God has also provided you with a house in heaven, and he invites you to come to Christ to receive the keys."
"Before Jesus went back to heaven, he said he is going to prepare a place for us. When he comes back, if we belong to him, he will take us to be with him before God in heaven."
It was at this point that - while many of the dignitaries appeared somewhat uncomfortable - the less "respectable" half of the congregation started applauding. Of course, they were not really clapping me, but rejoicing in the a God who had seen their suffering and provided an answer. Maybe they were beginning to glimpse "the good news preached to the poor" - the good news that in Jesus God has thrown wide the doors of the kingdom of heaven to welcome them into his family.
The poor often seem to enjoy Jesus' good news more than the rulers, or than we smart, rich and religious folk who are not happy for Jesus to say that just anyone can come in. After all, there are standards, you know.
Great, isn't it?
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina flood building gorom sahel emergency housing aid gorom-gorom jesus kingdom of god
January 29, 2007
Rebuilding the broken walls
A few photos of the rebuilding work we are doing in Gorom-Gorom after the flood:
1. Most of the 31 houses we are building are like this – built of mud brick with a tin roof, but with tarmac plastering to waterproof it, and a cement “belt” round the bottom to protect the first 40cm from flooding erosion. This was the first one completely finished, and the owner, Diao, has already moved in.
2. We chose the most vulnerable people, like Aisetou here, looking at her house, which is about to have its roof put on.
3. Five of the houses are of woodless construction like this, being built in collaboration with the Development Workshop. The houses need no wood, with even the roof being made entirely of mud bricks, formed into this domed shape.
4. This is one of the teams working on the domed roof of the woodless house. Each brick is placed carefully in its exact location. The whole process is great to watch.
5. Although the work is well over half-way finished now, the Gorom authorities were keen on having a “stone-laying ceremony”. We did this for Alaye’s house which we were about to start building, and the Prefet of Gorom-Gorom, the Mayor’s representative, and the General Secretary for the Province of Oudalan all came. We also happened to have with us this week visitors from my church in Cardiff, Glenwood church, which was the main donor for the flood victims. The brick is being laid by The Secretary General and Peter Cole from Glenwood.
6. Me with Alaye, for whose house the stone was being laid.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina flood building woodless construction sahel emergency housing aid
January 08, 2007
Gorom-Gorom Flood Response Phase 2
I have been really busy with the second phase of our response to the flood in Gorom-Gorom that left thousands homeless.
Phase 1 was emergency aid, including food, mosquito nets, blankets, and mats.
Phase 2 - rebuilding
We have now moved on to help some of the most vulnerable people rebuild their homes. We have identified about 30 of the most needy people - mostly widows and other elderly people who have no-one to help them. While others have started building for themselves, these are the people who would remain homeless for years unless something was done for them. They have been mostly sleeping under mat shelters suffering with the cold season.
The need to build was urgent not only because of the cold, but also because of the shortage of water for building. We have now nearly finished 12 houses, and are as yet the only people to have started building to help people, although other agencies have plans to start soon. We are building simple homes of two models: one is a mud and cement structure with a metal roof. The other is a woodless construction as a joint venture with the Development Workshop.
Woodless Constructions
These are fascinating buildings built entirely of mud - even the roof. They are not only environmentally friendly because they do not use up scarce wood supplies. They also have a better internal temperature - staying warmer in the cold season, and cooler in hot season than houses with the tin roof. And they seem to resist the rain better than other mud brick constructions. We would have liked to do all our buildings in this style, but some very practical limitations prevented that. However, we hope that those we do build will also promote awareness of the benefits of this model.
Thank you again to those of you who by your generosity have enabled us to take these actions. Our team for organising and overseeing the rebuilding is a small group of volunteers from the local church in Gorom. Please pray for us as we continue to try to serve faithfully. Thank you. I will post photos with more information soon.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina flood building woodless construction sahel emergency housing aid
November 04, 2006
Update on Gorom-Gorom flood and emergency aid
Click on the links here for updates on the following subjects:
Continue reading "Update on Gorom-Gorom flood and emergency aid"
October 30, 2006
Gorom Flood Update
On Saturday I went for a walk round town to look at the situation, and begin to talk to people. This photo is where I used to live – where the rubble is used to be my house before I moved out to our new piece of land.
Hope instead of despair
Everywhere I go, people are expressing thanks to the church for the help given. Everyone recognises that the help given by the church has been effective and significant. Local authorities too have expressed appreciation. It has been a great testimony to the compassion of God in Christ, and has helped thousands of people. As I talked with people, it is clear that, although many are still in hardship, there is not a sense of desperation, but of hope, and this has been put down largely to the timely help they have received.
Pastor Daniel and his team have done an excellent job in handling the money, the distribution, and in collaboration with local authorities. On behalf of the population of Gorom, he thanks you for your help, and for trusting the church with your aid. Today I also went to visit the town mayor, the chief of police, the commandant of the army, the “prefet” for the department, the gendarmerie director, the Social Action director, and various other local authorities who have been collaborating with the church. They all expressed their appreciation for the help given.
Aid Distribution and Ongoing Needs
The distribution of blankets and mats has been delayed, and will now happen this Friday. This will be a timely intervention as the cold season is about to start. After that, the general consensus seems to be that the time for immediate emergency aid is over, and we need a pause for reflection. The rains have finished, and the harvest is beginning to be gathered in. There is still an ongoing need, but we need to re-assess how and where to best allocate the remaining resources:
Among those affected by the flood and who lost their homes were people of all economic and physical condition. There are those who have the economic means to start re-building, or the physical strength to start making bricks for themselves. Others have no resource. Many of these have been grouped together in a “tent camp” under blue plastic tarpaulins provided by UNICEF.
Part of our next job will be to work with the local “Social Action” authorities to identify the neediest people. Others may not have lost their houses, but may have been already very vulnerable (some may not even have had a house to begin with), and the floods will have exacerbated this situation. We then need to think about the best way to help these people.
As we walked round town, everywhere were young men making mud bricks from the remains of their collapsed houses. It is great to see people taking the initiative to help themselves, but often they are re-building where floods are likely to happen again.
News on the Harvest
The harvest has not been good around Gorom this year. The flood washed away some fields. The subsequent rains were inadequate for the other fields, and then flocks of birds have eaten up a lot of what did actually grow. Some food will come in from the fields, and the better harvest in other areas will hopefully drive the price of grain down to ease up the situation. So it seems wise to cut down on food aid at this time. But more food aid will be necessary at the start of next rainy season.
Please pray as we seek the best way forward in an appropriate solution to all these things. Thank you. More soon.
October 13, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Flood Relief Update : 12 October
Background
Update
• Stories and Pictures. Steve has some stories and photos from Gorom at his blog, including the photo above of Pastor Pascal’s church, which was destroyed by the flood.
• Blankets and mats. Thank you for your prayers for the problem with the blankets and mats. We finally managed to get 1000 blankets and 1000 mats up to Gorom, and Seydou and Daniel are getting ready to distribute these. With the cold season coming up, the blankets will be very much needed – especially as most people will not have been able to rebuild their homes before the cold starts.
• The food situation. Seydou and Daniel are saying that we should do one more food distribution, as people are still in need. In addition, although the rainy season is just about finished, and people are getting ready to harvest, the harvest looks likely to be very poor this year. We are likely therefore to need to do follow-up food aid around May/June next year.
• My travels. I am heading out to Burkina on the 20th, and will arrive in Gorom about 5 days later, so am looking forward to seeing for myself the situation on the ground.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
October 02, 2006
Update on Flood Relief: 2 October
Background
UPDATE
• Mosquito nets. We bought 1000 mosquito nets from the national malaria bureau (PNLP) at 950 CFA (about £1) per net, which is a good price. We had problems again with transferring the money, but it did eventually work, and the nets were successfully distributed last Tuesday. The team there says that “this was a very important and beneficial distribution, since mosquito nets have been needed in this area for a long time…. We have seen the church’s white nets in use at the refuge sites already, and it’s very gratifying. The more people use them, the more the transmission of the disease will be prevented. Since our current list of displaced households only amounts to 821, we have some extra nets. These we will give to the hospital and to the authorities of nearby villages which have fallen houses but have not received any aide yet.”
• Blankets and mats. We are in the process of buying blankets and mats, but are having problems again with money transfers. This has been a continual difficulty. Please pray that we can get the money out quickly without further problems.
• Help from elsewhere. The Red Cross has now begun their distributions, including food for each affected household, and mats, clothes, and mosquito nets for each pregnant or nursing woman. They also have plans to help with reconstruction. The government is apparently providing temporary shelter in tented camps, and is promising help with the longer-term housing needs. I will look into this further once I get out to Burkina in a few weeks time.
Thanks for all your support and prayer.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
September 16, 2006
Update and photos of Gorom-Gorom flood and relief
Background
These are a few photos from Alain Kombere of the flood in Gorom, showing some of the main streets, and thigh-high water around the bus station. You can see more here. Thankfully now, the floodwater has largely dissipated, but with the rainy season continuing, standing water is still a problem.
Update
We have managed to buy 1000 mosquito nets at a good price, and these should be distributed in the next few days. This will be a great relief for the population, as the malaria-carrying mosquitos are breeding in the standing water. Pastor Daniel in Gorom continues to pass on thanks from Gorom residents for your help. Food was a major need, but we now seem to be on top of that situation, and are focusing on other needs.
We have also found a source of blankets and mats, which we are looking at for our next target. However, the big issue is still the question of temporary and long-term appropriate solutions to the shelter situation. People sheltering in schools will have to leave soon, and will need to return to their homes. If the rains are continuing, they will need some kind of temporary shelter. But soon after, when the rains stop, they will want to re-build their homes, and many may need help with this. Please pray that we can see the best way to help people.
Thank you.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
September 12, 2006
Brief Update on Gorom Relief
The latest food distribution went well again on Saturday, for which we thank God.
We have now found a source for mosquito nets at a special "social" price for the emergency relief, for which we are thankful. For large nets, already treated with insecticide, we will be paying about $2/net rather than the commercial price of $6. We are buying 1000 for distribution later this week.
Apparently the national Burkina press have also heard about our work and have been up to interview the team in Gorom!
Please pray that we can continue to respond effectively to the need. Many thanks.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
September 04, 2006
Brief Update on Gorom-Gorom Flood Relief
Background
Update
The second food aid distribution on Friday again went very well, and we have been asked to pass on the appreciation of the people of Gorom-Gorom for the help given. This is the hungriest time of year anyway, and the losses from the flood have added to people's hardship as they were still struggling to recover from the food crisis of 2004-5. The food aid at this time is a huge help for people. Thus the team on the ground have decided to do another distribution this coming Friday.
A new and more accurate assessment has increased the figure for the number of families affected to about 800. We have found about 600 "two-place" mosquito nets, and are hoping to find more so that we will be able to give at least one net per family. Daniel, Andy, and team are meeting this afternoon together with Red Cross and local authority representatives to look at the priorities for the coming weeks.
We are still looking for plastic sheets or similar to bring up to Gorom, before people have to leave the classroooms at the start of the school year in two weeks time. It looks like we may now have someone in Ouaga to help us find these and other needs, which will be a huge help - and a relief for me, as I have been trying to track them down from here in the UK, which is not easy!
In the News
In weeks where Lebanon, Ethiopian, and other crises have been at the centre of media attention, Gorom-Gorom has not of course been in the news. I did a press release here in the UK, which got picked up by some of the local news and Christian media. Inspire magazine picked up on it, and you can read their article online.
Travels
I am off to the US tomorrow for two weeks to meet up with the World Horizons people there as well as the good people of Hatteras Island Christian Fellowship, who have been supporting our work for the past few years. I think these are important meetings as I move into this new phase of life and ministry for the coming years.
But I will also need to be keeping a hand on developments in Gorom, which will be less easy while travelling. Please pray that God blesses this time and helps me accomplish all I need to do.
Many thanks
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
September 01, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Food Aid Distribution
Following the floods in Gorom-Gorom that destroyed half the town and made thousands homeless, we have begun our relief effort for the local population.
Background
Update
These are photos from last Friday's food aid distribution. The top photo shows the distribution happening at one of the five selected sites, at the bus station. The bottom photo shows the grain being collected. Each family received 13kg of grain, and people came with their own bowls, sacks, buckets, or cloth to collect it.
The second distribution is happening today. Please pray for Andy, Daniel, and team as they continue to seek to respond to this situation with the love and wisdom of God.
Our previous food aid distribution was sorghum, which is eaten locally, but we are responding to requests from the local population to bring millet instead, as this is more useful to them.
Please pray for today's distribution, that it goes as well as last week's, and that this helps vulnerable people to find some stability in the crisis.
Next Steps
We are trying to find a good quantity of mosquito nets at reasonable prices to purchase in Ouagadougou and bring up. Malaria is a big problem at this time of year.
IRIN reports that, as well as mosquito nets, temporary shelter is a big need. People currently sheltering in schools will need to move out shortly to make way for the new school year. Tents are hard to find - Red Cross have only been able to provide 15 of an estimated 330 needed. We want to investigate other possibilities too.
Please pray as we try to respond to the most urgent needs, that we can identify those needs and respond appropriately.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 28, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Food Distribution
Background
Update
Our first food aid distribution was completed on Friday, and was a success, thanks to the hard work, forethought, and effectiveness of our team on the ground.
We were able to distribute 107 sacks of sorghum, giving 800 families food for a few days. The distribution was carried out in each of the five sectors of town, overseen by Daniel, Andy, Altine, and others from the church, working through representatives of the sector where the distribution was being carried out. Representatives of local authorities and the Red Cross were also present, and the whole operation has run smoothly and with good co-operation between the various groups.
We are now preparing for a second distribution this Friday, and are looking at purchasing mosquito nets as the next phase. Because of the water, there are a lot of malaria mosquitos around, and many people are suffering. We are therefore also looking at how to help people with essential medical treatment for malaria and other needs.
I want to thank Daniel, Andy and Laura, Altine, and the others of our team on the ground for the great work they are doing. Please pray for them as they continue to work at the sharp end of this work. Pray that people will retain dignity as well as being helped in their suffering. And please also pray that God will be honoured and that people will give thanks to him and recognise him as their rock and source of help.
Thank you
More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 23, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Flooding Update - 23 August
Background
The pictures show Gorom-Gorom before and after the flood.
Update
Things are happening quite quickly, now thankfully. Because of the delay in being able to collect the money, our distribution has been put back to Friday. But this will work well, as we are co-ordinating with Christian Aid and others who are doing similar distributions on Monday and today, Wednesday, to ensure that everyone in need is covered.
Members of my home church, Glenwood Church, have made a very generous contribution to the work, and Samartian's Purse and Food for the Hungry are also supporting us in our efforts.
Personal stories from Gorom-Gorom
Via Andy in Gorom:
"Everybody says thank God that this flood happened during the day. It seems like most people were able to get their family and belongings out of the houses before they fell in. But some weren't able to save anything, "not even a spoon," as my neighbor Ibrahim said. These would include people who were out of town during the catastrophe, including our Mossi neighbors, and the owner of the corner store, Adrouhaman (called "Alfa"), who lost everything in his store, including an expensive stock of cement and paint."
"Amadou the mason... worked all morning to protect his courtyard and his neighbors' by digging channels and building bulwarks of earth. In the end, the water levels raised too high... by which time he was too exhausted to get anything out of the house, even a change of clothes. He spent the following week wearing the same pair of shorts and torn shirt--here it's important to note that grown men don't wear shorts in public here, and people take pride in their clothing being clean and in good shape. His baby died two days after the flood, "still on his mother's back." He says it was malaria, but he thinks that being exposed to the cold and wet may of brought on the illness. "I don't understand why God would do this," he said."
More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 21, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Flooding Update
Background
Update
A very busy day today, and it's getting late, so I'll write more tomorrow. We have had a number of significant gifts today through my home church and through an aid agency, which I will tell you about very soon.
The guys were finally able to collect the £4000 I sent out, and the first part of this will be used for a grain distribution this coming Friday.
Please pray for good collaboration with the authorities, for the right help to reach the right people, for us to be able to steward these gifts well, and for God to touch the hearts of people.
Thank you
Photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 19, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Flooding Update: 19 August
Background
Update
We have come up with an initial budget for the immediate response to the crisis in Gorom-Gorom and area. We estimate we need about $170,000 (about £90,000) for everything for 700 households in Gorom-Gorom, and 200 in the surrounding area. This is for food, temporary shelter (tents), and household provisions (blankets, medicines, mats, mosquito nets, clothes etc). We are looking for all the help we can get.
Now that food distribution will be starting, we are beginning to think of shelter, other provisions, and to mosquito nets. As it is the rainy season, there are lots of malaria-carrying mosquitos breeding in the water. Malaria kills 1 million people a year, 90% of the victims being in Africa - see this series on malaria I did last year.
So mosquito nets are a major need. As Andy says:
"We sure could use them. Lots of water. Lots of mosquitos. Lots of sick, unhappy people."
The most expensive and difficult part of this is the tents. We don't know where to get hold of these, and certainly don't have the money for them. We are in discussion with several aid agencies to see whether they might be able to help us with this. Please pray for this. Thank you.
Update
* Red Cross have just announced that they are allocating $47,941 (about £25000) from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to respond to the needs in Gorom-Gorom, "or to replenish disaster preparedness stocks distributed to the affected population." Pray still for a good link-up. I have contacted them to try and co-ordinate.
* We have been told that "plastic sheets", rather than tents may be a more readily available solution for temporary shelter, so need to look into this.
More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 18, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Flooding Update - 18 August
Background
Update
The latest figures for those affected by the flood, following a more accurate census by local authorities gives the following figures for the town of Gorom-Gorom (not including villages outside the town):
- 697 households have been displaced by the flood, consisting of 5514 people
- 943 houses, 7 shops, and 20 grain stores have been destroyed by the rain
Our £4000 has not yet been collected, since the post-office at Gorom-Gorom did not have enough cash. The road from the capital is now open however, so Andy and Pastor Daniel hope to get the money on Monday morning. I spoke to the head of the post-office, and he assures me this should be possible.
Christian Aid are also starting a relief effort through their partner in Gorom-Gorom, UCEC-Sahel. Andy and Daniel will be co-ordinating with them. I am in contact with Peace Corps workers Andy and Laura's parents in the US, and we are also in touch with a number of other agencies to look at different possibilities. Andy is working on an estimate of the needs and budget for us to present an action plan to possible partners. Please pray for good communication and co-ordination between us all.
More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 16, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Flooding Update
Background
Update
Thank you to those of you who have already responded. We have just sent out £4000 ($7500) to help with food aid in the immediate aftermath of the flooding. Andy, Daniel and team are planning a food distribution on Monday. That money will help buy food for maybe 200 families for a month, or 400 families for 2 weeks.
Andy and Daniel and team are doing a great job, and we trust them to decide the best way to use the money. Food is the immediate need, as it was already the hungriest time of the year, before the floods hit, destroying the little reserve people had, and taking many away from work they could do to provide for their families.
We are trying to co-ordinate now for finding mosquito nets, tents, blankets, medicines, and clothes. We are also contacting aid agencies in the hope that they may come and help. Please pray as we seek to find the best response. Any financial help you can give us will also be well-received.
Pastor Pascal
This photo shows Pascal and his wife before the flood, with their home on the left, and their church on the right. This has now all disappeared, washed away by the rain. I spoke to Pascal yesterday - he has found somewhere to stay, and was more concerned about the people sleeping under the stars with no shelter in the middle of rainy season. He asks for your prayers for everyone.
At the same time, people still need rain - the rains started late this year, and so need to continue until the end of September for any hope of a reasonable harvest. Please pray for this, but also that everyone can find shelter quickly. Thank you.
More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Background information on Gorom-Gorom here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 15, 2006
Update on Gorom-Gorom floods
Update
Background
The floods in Gorom have finally made the news - even if it is only in the African media - a week after they happened. You can read more here (English) and here (in French).
Local press in Burkina reports the number of households affected as 877 in Gorom-Gorom. The UN reports the number of people made homeless as 6000 in Gorom, and 4000 in 15 villages to the north of the town.
Injuries and deaths have remained very low, which is a cause for thanks - had the rains come at night when people were asleep inside, these would have been much higher.
Aid Situation
Andy Kostrub of Peace Corps in Gorom-Gorom says: "So far, 10 metric tons of grain, 100 mats, and 100 blankets have been distributed by CONASUR, a government food security agency, to people staying at the shelters. The grain was exhausted within one day." Contributions have also from religious and other organisations, but the total being inadequate to the need. "Action Sociale could not specify any other aid that was on the way, though he said he was in contact with Christian Aid and had received a call from UNICEF. We gather that they are waiting for the international community to act."
"The immediate needs are for food, medicine, mosquito nets, and tents."
Impact of the floods
This photo shows how the water erodes the base of the mud-brick house, causing it eventually to collapse.
"This time of year is normally the hungry season and the peak time for malaria and bronchitis. We expect that disease and hunger will be exacerbated by the displacement and loss of wealth and livelihood brought by the flood. One nurse at the health district is concerned that there has not been a coordinated effort to look after health and hygiene conditions at the places of refuge."
"Electricity, water pumps, telephone, and cell phone service are all functional."
The effect on fields and this year's harvest is not yet clear. Andy is not aware of great problems, but the UN says: "Local authorities reckon the floods will have wiped out harvests affecting thousands of farmers in and around Gorom-Gorom."
Response
I am liaising with Andy and the local pastor, Daniel Kabore of Gorom-Gorom Assemblies of God. Andy says: "We plan on coordinating with the Assembly of God church to do our part in the relief effort. We would like to help assure that emergency supplies reach those in need. Therefore, we’re asking those who are in Ouaga to let us know about the current availability of tents, mosquito nets, blankets, mats, bidons, buckets, clothing, soap, bleach, and medicine for sale or donation, or where we might go looking for them. We are soliciting donations of medicines for treating malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea, and basic medical supplies such as alcohol, cotton swabs, syringes, antiseptic and antibiotics. We anticipate that the church will soon be able to accept money donations to purchase and transport food and supplies."
You can send donations through World Horizons (see here ), the organisation I work with, and we will make sure they arrive promptly.
This photo shows how, with typical sahelian resilience, Gorom people carry on normal life and business as they, at the same time, clear up the mess.
The photos here were taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers - more photos of the flood damage can be found here
Background information on Gorom-Gorom here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 13, 2006
ALERT - Flooding Makes Thousands Homeless In Gorom-Gorom
This page is being updated regularly.
Three people have died, and thousands made homeless following flooding around my "second home" of Gorom-Gorom.
What Happened
About 8 000 people in the region of Gorom-Gorom in northern Burkina Faso have lost their homes because of severe flooding. In Gorom itself, about 700 households were lost, affecting about half of the 12 000 population of the town. Roughly another 200 households in villages outside of Gorom were also destroyed. Many of the people affected are now sheltering in schools or with nearby family.
The disaster struck following a large rain, when 136cm (5.5")of rain fell (nearly half the normal year's rainfall) in 6 hours. A dam broke about 5 miles away, and a tide of water waist-high swept through the region. Several nearby villages were completely destroyed, as well as about half of the houses in Gorom-Gorom. Most houses are built of mud, and would have been simply washed away by the onslaught of water.
Only 3 people have died that we are aware of, fortunately. This is largely because the disaster happened during the day. If it had happened at night, when people were asleep in their houses, the losses would have been much higher.
The water largely flowed away from Gorom within the first two days, but the main road is still virtually impassable, and will remain difficult for the rest of the rainy season. Although health risks have been exacerbated, these are not extreme. It seems that fields and animals have not been badly impacted, but that many small businesses may have lost their stock.
Immediate needs
The immediate need is for food, mosquito nets, soap, buckets, clothing, medicines, mats, tents, and blankets. Mosquito nets are very important as the rains bring mosquitos, which carry malaria. Malaria kills nearly 1 million people in Africa each year.
An initial budget estimate for the immediate response to the crisis in Gorom-Gorom and area is about $170,000 (about £90,000) for everything for 700 households in Gorom-Gorom, and 200 in the surrounding area. This is for food, temporary shelter, and household provisions (blankets, medicines, mats, mosquito nets, clothes etc). We are looking for all the help we can get.
Food can be bought in Gorom-Gorom, and most of the rest of these items can be bought in the capital, Ouagadoudou. The tents or plastic sheets for shelter are the most difficult to get hold of, but are very necessary as the rains continue.
Getting help there is a problem: The only road to Gorom from the capital city remains very difficult throughout the rainy season, but supplies were initially being trucked as far as possible, and food hand carried through chest deep water to the other side, where it was picked up and brought to Gorom.
The village water wells appear to be safe. Sanitation and health risks have been exacerbated but do not appear to be extreme at this time, as the water disperses fairly quickly, and there are dry days often between the rains, allowing the ground to dry out.
Longer-term Needs
The main needs will start after the end of the rainy season, helping people re-build not only their homes, but also their livelihoods:
* Food Aid. If fields and crops will have been affected, food aid may be needed throughout the year. The rains started late this year, and the rains need to carry on until the end of Sep for a reasonable harvest.
* Housing. A simple mud-brick house costs about £100 ($200). However, this is not possible immediately, as it is virtually impossible to build mud-brick houses in the rainy season, which runs from July-Sep. There is also the question as to whether people should build in mud again. Certainly local people will not be able to afford to build for themselves, and even if they could, building in cement would be beyond their means.
* Livelihood. I suspect that people will have lost not only possessions and homes and fields, but possibly their businesses too, and there will be need to help people re-build their lives and communities.
Response
I am liaising with a small group composed of the local pastor (Daniel), an American volunteer worker (Andy), and a local nurse (Altine), who are looking at the best way to respond.
Our initial help has been in Food Aid Distribution, on the 25 August and 1 September, through the local church. We are also looking at finding mosquito nets, soap, tents etc for the next phase, and are trying to contact aid agencies who might be able to help. Members of my home church, Glenwood Church, have made a very generous contribution to the work, and Samartian's Purse and Food for the Hungry are also supporting us in our efforts.
A Gorom-Gorom Crisis Committee with village leaders has been organised, to identify priority needs and resources, gather data, get information to the country's government and to public and private aid organizations, and to request needed assistance.
The initial response of local authorities was impressive. The military and police apparently did a great job in bringing food aid in, but circumstances have made consistent distribution difficult. An initial distribution of 10 metric tons of grain, 100 mats, and 100 blankets was made by CONASUR, a government food security agency to those staying in shelters, but this was finished in one day.
We are co-ordinating with the Crisis Committee, but are unaware of any other response at present by local authorities. Christian Aid and the Red Cross are now also responding, and we are liasing with them.
How to Help APPEAL CLOSING
Update: 24 Oct 2006: The appeal for help for the flood relief effort is closing from 31 Oct 2006. If more help is needed for future developments, I will keep you informed.
If you are wish to support other the rest of our work in Gorom-Gorom, please send cheques made payable to World Horizons to:
USA
Burkina Faso Sahel Account
World Horizons
PO Box 17721,
Richmond,
VA 23226
USA
UK
Burkina Faso Sahel Account
World Horizons
North Dock
Llanelli
Carms SA15 2LF
UK
Thank you.
I will keep you updated as I get news. Please pray. Thank you.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
