Flood-battered Mauritania struggles to repair damage

2009-09-28

As floodwaters from heavy rains recede, government aid and international assistance are beginning to flow to Mauritanians displaced from their homes.

By Jamel Arfaoui in Tunis and Mohamed Ould Khattat in Nouakchott for Magharebia – 28/09/09

[Mohamed Ould Khattat] Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf views the damage resulting from ongoing floods in Mauritania.

With the help of international aid, Mauritania is working to repair damage from torrential rainstorms that have battered the country since the middle of August.

At least 9,000 people have been harmed by flooding, with five dead nationwide and thousands displaced in Rosso, Nouakchott, Aleg, Boghé and Sélibaby. Several suburbs of Nouakchott have been especially hard hit, including Basra, Sebkha, El Mina, Socogim PS and Dar Naim.

"Our district has been swamped by water, and not just from the rain, but also coming up through the ground, because we're at sea level here," said Socogim PS resident Mariem B. "We're equally under threat from rainwater and seawater."

With over 31mm of rain still expected to fall this week, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said on Thursday (September 17th) that the government must evaluate "all the damage caused by the bad weather, with a view to bringing … assistance to the suffering people."

The government's efforts have been bolstered by international support. Algeria sent more than 33 tonnes of basic foodstuffs and 100 tents on September 2nd, while Niger sent a cheque for nearly $56,000.

Tunisia has provided 15 tonnes of food and medicines, 20 tents and 430 blankets. In a September 23rd press release, Tunisian Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity Ali Chaouch called the aid "part of the solid brotherly ties we share with Mauritania".

For its part, the United States has announced an overall aid programme of $55,000. Of this, $25,000 was sent to UNICEF to install sewage facilities, provide potable water and co-ordinate hygiene awareness activities at a camp for those displaced by flooding in Rosso. A further $30,000 will be allocated for provisions, potable water and sewage treatment for other displaced people.

The Mauritanian government has distributed 127 tonnes of food and 300 fully-equipped tents. Forty lorries have been dumping sand in pools of standing water in the streets of Nouakchott, 20 water tankers have been helping clear away water, and other vehicles have been cleaning mud from the streets, squares and marketplaces. Workers made their way through the streets on foot, disinfecting them as they go.

During a September 25th visit to Rosso, where as many as 3,500 people have been displaced by floods, Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf promised to put an end to "the recurring problem of floods in all major towns and cities across Mauritania".

But not all Mauritanians are satisfied with the disaster relief measures by the government, which some have called powerless in the face of the flooding.

"What's the use of this sand, which won't soak up the water?" said El Mina resident Oumar Thiam. "Instead, the water's going to carry it away, and we'll be knee-deep in disease."

"We've been forgotten. Our district, El Mina, is one of the worst affected, and our children could end up getting malaria," he added. "There's water in our homes and all around our homes, and we can't sleep at night because of the mosquitoes."

His criticism was echoed by Socogim PS resident Mariem, who said: "[T]he pools that have formed are now a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which are constantly attacking us, night and day. Our children and elderly people are living in the midst of these mosquitoes, which are the biggest cause of death in the world."

Observers attribute much of the recent devastation to a lack of preparation, particularly in terms of rainwater drainage systems, which have never been a feature of Nouakchott's urban planning.

An inter-ministerial committee has been given the task of studying ways to take control of the worsening situation, local media reported. Chaired by the prime minister, the committee will work out a medium-term strategy to evaluate liquid waste in Nouakchott.

The members will study the topography of the capital, which ranges from a meter below to three metres above sea level, and decide which areas have a high flood risk.