ReliefWeb

A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster

Between 24 July - 3 August 2015, it rained heavily in the capital of Guinea, Conakry and in several areas of the country (Beyla, Coyah, Forecariah, Macenta, Siguiri and Télimélé) causing serious floods with loss of human lives as well as significant material damage. In Conakry, over 450mm of rain fell (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA). In other regions, specifically the northwest, 200mm fell during this time. In some localities of Telimele, a prefecture located in lower Guinea, around 1,700 people have been affected by the violent storms and the heavy rains. In Beyla and Forecariah the floods killed four people while in Macenta the infrastructural damage has been without precedent. All five communes of Conakry (Matoto, Dixinn, Ratoma, Kaloum, and Matam) were severely affected by the flooding, with the estimated the population of this area, 238,134 people approx. In September 2015, more heavy rains again poured down causing further loss of lives and decimated crops. This situation has been challenging, and worsening the health situation in the country which is already seriously affected since 2014by the Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic.

On 12 August 2015, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies released CHF 130,603 from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Red Cross Society of Guinea (RCSG) respond to the immediate needs of 1,500 households (9,000 people) affected by the floods, with interventions in the areas of emergency relief and shelter, health and care, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion for a period of three months. Following the launch of the DREF operation, the (RCSG) has experienced complications with the implementation of the activities planned in the Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA), specifically related to: the need to revise the beneficiary selection based on a reassessment of needs; and preparedness for the presidential elections (scheduled on 11 October), which have resulted in violence and disrupted access to some areas. This Operations Update is requesting an extension of timeframe of two months (New end date: 11 December 2015) to enable the completion of the activities planned; and thus meet the commitments that have been made to the affected population. Despite the time, which has passed since the DREF operation was launched, based on an analysis of the situation (by the relevant IFRC technical advisors), the activities planned in the EPoA remain relevant and appropriate to the immediate needs of the affected population affected. Please refer to “Needs and scenario planning” section”. It is possible that the presidential elections may continue to lead to unrest, which could then have implications on the implementation of the DREF operation. The RCSG in collaboration with the IFRC Guinea country delegation (which has a dedicated security delegate), will monitor the evolving situation, and provide regular communication to the IFRC Sahel regional representation and IFRC Africa zone disaster management unit to ensure that mitigating actions can be taken as required.

This DREF has been partially replenished by the Netherlands Red Cross DG Echo and the Canadian Red Cross/Govt. The major donors and partners of the DREF include the Red Cross Societies and governments of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the USA, as well as DG ECHO, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) the Medtronic, Zurich and other corporate and private donors. The IFRC, on behalf of the Red Cross of Guinea would like to extend many thanks to all partners for their generous contributions.