ORGANISATIONS PARTICIPATING IN CONSOLIDATED APPEALS DURING 2007:
AARREC
AASAA
ABS
Abt Associates
ACF/ACH/AAH
ACTED
ADRA
Africare
AGROSPHERE
AHA
ANERA
ARCI
ARM
AVSI
CADI
CAM
CARE
CARITAS
CCF
CCIJD
CEMIR Int’l
CENAP / CESVI
CHFI
CINS
CIRID
CISV
CL
CONCERN
COOPI
CORD
CPAR
CRS
CUAMM
CW
DCA
DRC
EMSF
ERM
EQUIP
FAO
GAA (DWH)
GH / GSLG
HDO
HI
HISAN - WEPA
Horn Relief
ILO
INTERSOS
IOM
IRC
IRD
IRIN
JVSF
MALAO
MCI
MDA
MDM
MENTOR
MERLIN
NA
NNA
NRC
OA / OCHA
OCPH
ODAG
OHCHR
PARACOM
PARC
PHG
PMRS
PRCS
PSI
PU
RFEP
SADO
SC-UK
SECADEV
SFCG
SNNC
SOCADIDO
Solidarités
SP
STF / UNAIDS
UNDP
UNDSS
UNESCO
UNFPA
UN-HABITAT
UNHCR
UNICEF
UNIFEM
UNMAS
UNODC
UNRWA
UPHB
VETAID
VIA
VT
WFP
WHO
WVI
WR
ZOARC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Table I: Summary of Requirements – By Sector and Appealing Organisation
2.Context and Humanitarian consequences
2.1Context
2.2Humanitarian Consequences
3.Response plans
3.1Food Security
3.2Health
3.3Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
3.4Education
3.5Nutrition
3.6Common Services
3.6.1Appealing Agency: WFP
3.6.2Appealing Agency: UNDP
3.6.3Appealing Agency: OCHA
3.7Shelter/Non-Food Items
3.8Sustainable Livelihoods
4.ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Table II: List of Appeal Projects
ANNEX I.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETITES
ANNEX I.
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Please note that appeals are revised regularly. The latest version of this document is available on
1
GHANA FLOODS FLASH APPEAL 2007
1.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
During the months of August and early September 2007, heavy rainfall led to severe flooding in several West African countries resulting in the loss of lives, displacement of vulnerable persons and the destruction of key infrastructure, food stocks and livestock throughout the region. The most recent regional estimates indicate that as many as 800,000 people have been affected by the floods in Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Togo, Mali, The Gambia, Niger, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mauritania, Sierra Leone and Benin. The floods coincide with the most critical time of the year, the lean season when West African families - mostly in the Sahel region - face food insecurity. Thus, the destruction of crop and food stocks has aggravated the vulnerability of poor families and needs to be addressed promptly through emergency and recovery interventions.
Among the key challenges in the region are to ensureaccess to affected populations and to contain the rising threat of epidemics. The humanitarian community must pursue a dual approach of responding to urgent needs, while at the same timeaverting further deterioration of the situation. Access to affected population is impeded by the destruction of key infrastructure (Ghana), poor road conditions (Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger), and insecurity (Iferouane, northern Niger). The situation in Iferouane is particularly worrying, as humanitarian actors struggle to respond to the needs of some 500 persons affected by floods and food insecurity. An additional concern is the reported presence of new landmines being laid around the city.
At present, three countries are among the worst affected by the floods; Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo. This appeal currently focuses on emergency needs in Ghana, where excessive rainfall coupled with the spillage of excess water from the Bagre Reservoir in Burkina Faso has resulted in extensive floods in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. The floods have caused severe damage in these regions, including the loss of livestock, the destruction of farmlands, houses, bridges, schools and health facilities, as well as damage to the water supply, irrigation systems, food storage and processing facilities. There are also some small but badly affected areas in other regions of the country, particularly the Western Region. These affected areas were identified by the Government just before publishing this appeal, so assistance needs in these regions will be reflected in a revised appeal.
Floods are a common feature in Ghana hence certain community coping mechanisms are in place. However, it was this year’s combination of cumulative events (the prolonged dry spell, abnormal torrential rains and the spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso) that caused the humanitarian situation. Coping mechanisms have been overwhelmed and an already very vulnerable population has been severely affected.
The Government of Ghana, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the United Nations, the Red Cross Movement, religious groups and private entities have provided much needed life saving assistance to affected populations in the most devastated areas. However, a recent joint assessment mission revealed an urgent need to boost assistance in order to:(a) avoid a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation; (b) help normalise the food security situation; and (c) complement efforts to restore livelihoods.
Significantly, most of the affected areas were socio-economically vulnerable prior to the floods. The floods have thus triggered a rapid deterioration of existing vulnerabilities that needs to be addressed in parallel with life saving interventions. Such concerted emergency and recovery action remains critical to ensuring that needs are adequately met. Constant monitoring will be undertaken to ensure that the appeal remains pertinent, and that relevant and timely adjustments to the current response strategy are made.
Although NGOs have participated in the humanitarian strategy formulation and response, they have not yet presented projects for inclusion in the appeal. The main reason for this is that the Country Team in Ghana is unaccustomed to emergency response and to the requirements of humanitarian reform, whereby the United Nations is committed to working more closely with NGOs as strategic partners. This will be fully rectified in a revised edition in the coming weeks. The establishment of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is expected to help consolidate the humanitarian partnership.
Humanitarian stakeholders through this appeal will focus on the following priority sectors:
Food Security including Nutrition;
Health;
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene;
Education;
Common Services;
Shelter;
Sustainable Livelihoods;
Coordination and Information Management.
This Flash Appeal requests a total amount of US$[1]9,913,136(net requirements) to sustain and improve the ongoing efforts to urgently address key humanitarian and limited early recovery needs for the 75,000 most affected persons during the next six months.
Table I: Summary of Requirements – By Sector and Appealing Organisation
Ghana Flash AppealSummary of Requirements - By Sector*
as of 03 October 2007
Compiled by OCHA on the basis of information provided by the respective appealing organisation.
Sector / Full Requirements($) / Approved CERF Funding
($) / Unmet Requirements ($)
FOOD SECURITY / 5,550,559 / 1,752,363 / 3,798,196
HEALTH / 1,300,000 / 428,072 / 871,928
WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE / 750,000 / 235,756 / 514,244
EDUCATION / 500,000 / 500,000
NUTRITION / 200,000 / 80,765 / 119,235
COMMON SERVICES / 1,490,738 / 1,490,738
SHELTER/NON-FOOD ITEMS / 1,118,795 / 1,118,795
SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS / 1,500,000 / 1,500,000
TOTAL / 12,410,092 / 2,496,956 / 9,913,136
Ghana Flash Appeal
Summary of Requirements - By Appealing Organisation
as of 03 October 2007
Compiled by OCHA on the basis of information provided by the respective appealing organisation.
Organisation / Full Requirements ($) / Approved CERF Funding ($) / Unmet Requirements ($)FAO / 1,750,000 / 252,413 / 1,497,587
IOM / 878,795 / 878,795
OCHA / 242,981 / 242,981
UNDP / 900,000 / 900,000
UNFPA / 400,000 / 259,871 / 140,129
UNHCR / 240,000 / 240,000
UNICEF / 1,950,000 / 484,722 / 1,465,278
WFP / 5,648,316 / 1,499,950 / 4,148,366
WHO / 400,000 / 400,000
TOTAL / 12,410,092 / 2,496,956 / 9,913,136
2.Context and Humanitarian consequences
2.1Context
Heavy and persistent rains during late August and mid-September 2007 caused massive flooding in the three northern regions of Ghana particularly in upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions, especially along the Black and White Volta and their tributaries. The flooding along the White Volta and its tributaries was compounded by the spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso. In a bid to identify the urgent needs of the affected population, a joint UN/NGO/Government assessment mission was conducted from 17 to 20 September 2007 and coordination meetings were held in Accra with the participation of United Nations/NGO/United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team and representatives of the donor community.
Initial reports indicated that 260,000 had been affected and 20 killed by the flooding in Upper East, Upper West and Northern regions. However, these were rough and crude estimates which were subsequently revised. After further assessment the United Nations Country Team are now working on a figure of 75,000 particularly vulnerable and in need of assistance. In view of the magnitude of floods, the Government of Ghana recently declared a state of emergency in the three inundated regions.
Damages caused by the floods include the collapse of nine bridges, the destruction of water supply systems, and the losses of an unspecified quantity of cropped farms and livestock as well as the destruction of public infrastructures (schools, roads). The destruction of key infrastructure has restricted access in some areas, thereby limiting the scope of assistance and hindering access to basic commodities for already vulnerable residents.
To respond rapidly to the evolving situation and complement ongoing efforts by national and local authorities, the United Nations is seeking$9,913,136through this Flash Appeal. The purpose is to address the immediate needs of flood victims in Ghana. Targeted assistance will be provided during the next six months while concerted efforts will be made to mobilise longer-term programmes to address the large-scale rehabilitation needs emanating from this disaster. At present humanitarian actors operating in Ghana include national and international NGOs, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes as well as the Red Cross Movement.
This proposed Relief Operation will target some 75,000 vulnerable individuals, who have been directly affected by the floods (15,000 in upper east, 50,000 in northern region and 10,000 in upper west). As part of the United Nations commitment to assist in the immediate response, the Emergency Relief Coordinator has authorised the disbursement of $2,496,956 through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). This is in addition to resources mobilised bilaterally by other humanitarian actors and Government entities. Regular assessments will continue to be undertaken to ensure that the resources being sought remain relevant and that emergency action is either phased out or reinforced in a timely fashion. At the time of publishing this appeal, the Government requested assistance to support some 8,000 people affected by the floods in the Western region. Upon verification, the response to these needs will be incorporated in a revised edition of this appeal.
2.2Humanitarian Consequences
Entire communities have been cut off from health services, safe water and other critical basic services, rendering women and children particularly vulnerable. In addition, displaced persons are exacerbating the food security conditions of already vulnerable host families. Affected populations also have little or no access to food, shelter and transport. In some areas, the risk of outbreaks of communicable diseases is also high which is expected to rapidly increase malnutrition, food insecurity as well as maternal and neo-natal deaths.
Following an initial technical assessment, the Government response included several visits to the area by high ranking officials, including the President and the Vice-President. Relief items were distributed in a timely manner to some of the worst affected areas, and reconstruction started on the infrastructure destroyed by the floods. In addition, an inter-Ministerial committee on Disaster Relief was established. At present, additional resources are being mobilised to address the significant needs recently identified in affected areas. The Government also seeks the support of the United Nations to lead the coordination of all international support to this disaster. In response to this request, United Nations relief agencies have temporarily reinforced their emergency response capacity in-country. Meanwhile, OCHA has deployed staff to help with the assessments, the management of information, resource mobilisation and coordination of the response. To ensure that the response to these floods concurrently addresses priority emergency and rehabilitation needs, preparations are underway for a comprehensive joint assessment by the Government and its partners. The Flash Appeal will thus be revised to ensure that it reflects updated priority emergency needs of those most affected by the floods.
3.Response plans
3.1Food Security
Sector Leads:World Food Programme (WFP) and
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Partners:Ministries of Interior, Health, Food and Agriculture, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Department for International Development (DFID), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Bank (WB), German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), World Vision (WV), Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), OXFAM, Action Aid, Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS), Opportunities for Industrialization Centers International (OICI), ActionAid
Sector Objectives
- To ensure short and medium-term food security for a minimum of 75,000 flood affected people.
- To protect livelihoods and enhance resilience to shocks for drought and flood affected households.
- To protect the nutritional status of pregnant/lactating women and children under-five in flood-affected areas.
Needs Analysis
The extensive flooding in the three northern regions of Ghana have severely damaged crops and undermined food security in the three affected regions, resulting in significant failure of the planting season for 2007. The recent floods followed a period of prolonged dry spells that extended between April and July. Therefore this season’s crop failure brings together the effects of drought and floods. As of today, many of the flooded areas are inaccessible due to breakdown of key infrastructure, including bridges and roads. Initial assessments of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) estimate that 70,500 hectares have been affected, resulting in an estimated production loss of 144,000 Metric Tonnes (MTs) of food crops (including maize, sorghum, millet, ground nuts, yam, cassava and rice).
Prior to the floods, the planted crops suffered frequent dry spells during April – May, followed by a long period of drought between May and July which disrupted the farming calendar. As a result, most of the planted crops reached a permanent wilting point from which they did not recover. Most farmers were unable to achieve the early harvest of millet, cowpeas and groundnuts which usually takes them up to the major harvest in October. Apart from the estimated loss due to the floods, the surviving crops are now experiencing frequent heavy rains which will leach soil nutrients and disturb growth. Therefore, the expected potential yields of these farmlands will not be achieved.
Prices of all staples have increased by 100% since the flooding, reducing food access for affected populations. Not all food commodities are readily available at all markets, due to flooded roads and submerged bridges. An estimated 75,000 people will remain vulnerable to food insecurity and at risk of malnutrition for at least 11 months until the early harvest in October 2008. To alleviate the situation, dry season irrigated crop production should be immediately commenced with seeds, fertiliser and tools as well as for the next rainy season to be supplied latest by March 2008.
The majority of displaced persons are living with host families, placing increasing pressure on household food security. Many families interviewed have reduced their intake to one meal a day. Displaced populations living in schools, temporary camps and community structures are receiving little or no food assistance and the wild leafy greens that they have been relying on are now exhausted or rotting underwater. Of particular concern is the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women and children under-five.
Response Strategy
Humanitarian Actions and Activities
The two-pronged response strategy involves meeting the emergency food needs of the affected populations while working to restore food production capacity and resilience at the earliest possible date.
DIRECT Food Assistance
- Food assistance will be delivered using a two-phase strategy. In the first phase, emergency life-saving food assistance will be provided to 75,000 of the most-affected people to address the immediate nutritional needs of families who lost their homes and crops. The general ration will consist of cereals, pulses, iodised salt and vegetable oil, and will meet 100% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for the affected populations.
- Fortified blended food, iodised salt and sugar will be available for supplementary feeding programmes targeting 10,000 pregnant/lactating women and malnourished children under-five. These programmes will be implemented in conjunction with the nutritional staff of the Ghana Health Services
Market analysis, Food Needs Assessment and Mapping
- The second phase will be based on a comprehensive food needs assessment to be conducted at the end of the rainy season. This assessment will review needs, market performance and agricultural prospects for the coming months in order to target appropriate interventions, such as food assistance, if needed.
- WFP will undertake market analysis to procure all commodities within Ghana and the sub-region, with emphasis on decentralised procurement in the North.
- Participation in Ghana Health Service (GHS)/UNICEF rapid nutritional assessment.
Expected Output
- 6,683 MTs of mixed commodities distributed to 75,000 people facing acute food insecurity as a direct result of floods.
- 468 MTs of fortified blended food and sugar provided to 10,000 nutritionally at-risk pregnant/lactating women and children under-five.
- Comprehensive food needs assessment implemented.
- Monitoring of market performance and price trends.
Expected OutcomeS