The Gambia floods: Rapid needs assessment report and response recommendations 2022

Executive summary

The Gambia is highly prone to disasters, particularly floods. Climate change driven global warming is increasing sea and river levels. Desertification and drought in The Gambia’s peripheral regions are driving displacement towards the low-lying urban areas of Greater Banjul. Unregulated settlement is taking place in flood prone areas and encroaching on canals and drainage systems. Thus, increasing the size of populations in vulnerable areas.

Insufficient infrastructure and drainage render both urban and rural populations vulnerable. Insufficient waste management is causing blockages to drainage and waterways. Insufficient maintenance means that sediment, vegetation growth, and waste are reducing the capacity of the system to allow flood waters to abate. Insufficient sewage systems entail contamination of water.

The floods that hit The Gambia on the 30th and 31st of July and again on the 4th and 5th of August caused lethal harm and widespread damage to homes and property, particularly in Greater Banjul but also in North Bank, Central River Region and Upper River Region. Official figures show that 50,378 people were affected and 7,404 were displaced.

The floods breached water and sewage systems causing widespread contamination of water bodies. Unmanaged toxic hazards also entered the water system.

The humanitarian assessment identified Food, WASH, Shelter, Health and Protection as key priorities. It also ascertained that while most populations affected reside in the Great Banjul Area vulnerability is higher in rural areas and this should be factored into humanitarian planning.

The environmental assessment identified key risks. Namely contamination of water by sewage and household/commercial waste but also in certain locations by hazardous chemicals.

The findings underscored the need for an upscaling of an emergency response for affected populations and a prioritized approach to addressing environmental risks.

The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and the United Nations have worked closely in providing coordination support to the response. This report is the outcome of four weeks of coordination support provided by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), specifically its United Nations Disaster Assessment Team (UNDAC) to the NDMA, and to the office of the Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team – namely WFP, UNICEF, WHO, IOM, UNFPA, FAO and UNDP. It describes the collective efforts of the NDMA, United Nations and Partners in assessing the situation, it outlines joint response planning and makes the following overall recommendations.

• Reinforce the emergency humanitarian response by providing additional support to affected populations and by identifying solutions for those facing key risks such as displacement, contaminated water and protection threats.

• Improve response preparedness through planning, prepositioning, and coordination mechanism strengthening; including preparation to leverage capabilities at regional and international level should capacities in-country prove insufficient for future crises.

Review of key infrastructure including considerations of development, project repair, completion, and maintenance.