Burkina Faso Floods Anticipatory Actions - Imminent DREF Final Report (MDRBF022)

Country: Burkina Faso Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Event development Update regarding the event’s development The preparedness activities planned under this operation were primarily implemented in the provinces of Balé and Ioba, areas particularly exposed to flooding risks during the months of August, September, and October. This period traditionally corresponds to the season when overflow of the Mouhoun River causes recurrent flooding, especially in the provinces of Mouhoun, Balé, Ioba, Houet, and Tuy. In August 2024, riverine flooding effectively affected the villages of Hèrèdougou and Goro in the municipality of Pâ (Balé Province), following a critical rise in the water level of the Mouhoun River. These floods affected at least 800 people, causing damage to housing, loss of household assets, and disruptions in access to essential services such as safe drinking water, healthcare, and food. In this context, activities implemented under the DREF Imminent operation mainly focused on early disaster risk reduction actions. These included, in particular: training 40 volunteers on flood risks and the early warning system; training 50 volunteers (local teams) in first aid; mobilizing 112 volunteers to conduct community awareness sessions on appropriate behaviors before, during, and after floods; producing and broadcasting radio spots in local languages to reach a wide audience; supporting the organization of three coordination platforms (COPROSUR) bringing together local authorities, technical services, community structures, and the Burkina Faso Red Cross (CRBF) to harmonize actions and strengthen information-sharing; ensuring the continuous dissemination of reliable information through community radios and social media; supporting the monitoring of early flood warning signs through the follow-up of 10 hydrological stations and the timely transmission of data to the relevant authorities. These actions contributed to strengthening preparedness, awareness, and vigilance among exposed communities. However, despite the mobilization and preparedness of local actors, no major flooding occurred during the implementation period of the operation. Trigger thresholds were not reached, as recorded rainfall levels were slightly below initial forecasts. Although a rise in water levels was observed in Hèrèdougou, which temporarily submerged National Road RN1, the impacts remained limited. Nevertheless, the CRBF deployed volunteers to raise awareness among road users and reinforce safety at the site. This situation can also be explained by ongoing works in the municipality of Pâ, notably the construction of new water retention and crossing infrastructures, which helped mitigate the potential effects of heavy rainfall. As a result, rapid response activities were not activated before the planned date of 30 September 2025, as no major flooding occurred that would have justified their implementation.
2026-08-13 02:33:48