Felleng: Les Seychelles décrètent l’état d’urgence et appellent à l’aide internationale

Felleng: Les Seychelles décrètent l’état d’urgence et appellent à l’aide internationale

Aux Seychelles, la présence de la tempête tropicale Felleng a provoqué des intempéries d’une telle violence que l’archipel a dû décréter l’état d’urgence. Le pays appelle à l’aide internationale.

Selon la Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), contactée ce lundi soir 28 janvier, les principales îles de l’archipel, Mahé, Praslin et La Digue sont frappées par des inondations et des glissements de terrain. Depuis hier, l’archipel subit des intempéries exceptionnellement violentes en raison de la présence de la tempête tropicale modérée Felleng dans sa zone.

Le président des Seychelles, James Michel, a dans une déclaration sur la SBC, parlé de «désastre» et souligné que le pays ne pourra pas se relever tout seul. Il a lancé un appel à l''aide internationale.

Les Seychelles ont décrété l'état d'urgence dans quatre districts, Anse-aux-Pins, Pointe-La-Rue, Au-Cap et Cascades. Toutefois, les zones touristiques n’auraient pas été beaucoup affectées, de même que la capitale, Victoria. Les activités aéroportuaires ont été quelque peu touchées.

Selon Vidya Gappy, Managing Partner de Blast Seychelles, et Mauricienne installée dans l’archipel, le pays n’a pas connu de telles intempéries depuis 1998. «Il n’y a pas de vent, mais des pluies terribles. Les coulées de boue ont provoqué des dégâts. Une cinquantaine de maisons ont été évacuées. Des maisons ont été partiellement détruites. Les autorités ont réagi bien vite», a-t-elle déclaré.

Ce phénomène est exceptionnel, car les Seychelles se situent hors de la zone cyclonique. L’archipel comprend 115 îles, mais sa population est à 90 % concentrée à Mahé. La population est estimée à près de 90 000 habitants.

http://www.lexpress.mu/story/46741-felleng-les-seychelles-decretent-l-etat-d-urgence-et-appellent-a-l-aide-internationale.html

Bad weather causes havoc in east Mahe - 28.01.2013

Flooded houses, fallen trees and branches, blocked roads, stalled cars, fallen terraces, and collapsed retaining walls were only some of the severe damages caused by bad weather yesterday.

After a severe battering by heavy rains yesterday morning – described as a tropical depression by the authorities – emergency broadcasts were sent just before mid-day to warn people of the ongoing bad weather and of places that were seen as dangerous.

A tour of the east region of Mahé by a Seychelles Nation team discovered severe flooding in places like Pointe Larue, Anse Aux Pins, and Au Cap, while all along the roads terraces had fallen onto the road to the point of causing blockades in some places.

The Montagne Posée road was blocked momentarily by a small landslide of red earth, but was then cleared by an excavator and traffic flow was later restored.

At Pointe Larue and Anse Aux Pins, roads were so flooded that ditches could not be seen and there were reports of at least one vehicle driving into a ditch.

Flooded roads at Pointe Larue (below) and Anse Aux Pins

With water there at waist-level or higher, some people were seen to be trying to at least keep the water from flooding their property, while others – most in vain – were desperately trying to keep the water from completely flooding their houses.

At Anse Aux Pins, at least one stalled car was seen abandoned in the flooded and practically impassable road, obviously due to a flooded engine.

Bus services by the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation to the south region of Mahe were suspended, and by the time Nation went to press it had still not been restored.

The grim sights were seen in person by the Minister for Environment and Energy, Prof. Rolph Payet, who was carrying out aerial surveillance from a helicopter.

Minister Payet said they would need as many excavators as possible to clear the debris, and remove blockades so that the water would drain away.

The principal secretary for environment Wills Agricole told Nation that a lot of damages had taken place at housing estates, especially at Anse Aux Pins and Pointe Larue and other places in east Mahe.

“We have had a lot of reports of damaged property, and we have brought together a team comprising the Fire and Rescue Services Agency, department of community development, Red Cross society, department of environment and the police at a command centre located at the headquarters of the department of risk and disaster management to deal with situations as they arise,” he said.

“The heavy rains yesterday morning had coincided with a high tide of 1.8 metres, and this had helped to increase the severity of the flooding. And we expect that the rain will continue, although reports from the Met office say that in the next 24 hours or so, it might decrease in strength. Our priority for now is to first of all save lives – which we have not lost any so far – and to unblock the roads and make it safe again for traffic.”

However, it was feared that the next upcoming high tide late yesterday afternoon to evening would only make the flooding more severe if it was combined with more rain.

As a precaution, all officers of the Fire and Rescue Services Agency, and the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces were told to report to their respective bases to standby in case of any emergencies and people who had relatives in elderly homes at Au Cap were told to come collect them for their safety’s sake.

http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=30279

http://sbcw.sbcseychelles.com/Television/News/2013-01-28%20TV-8PM-News.wmv

Comment:
For the past 35 years in Europe we have been involved and contributed to very many important issues, alternative view, discipline and science on weather change, climate change and waht we shared with President FA Rene, Mr Guy Morel , Mr Guy Lionnet and Mr Kantilal Jivan shah - what we have written our concern when such or all of them have left us those left behind with all their new tools, education, expertise, resources will not be able to cope and manage - the challenges.

We have also been presenting the view for the past 30 given our work in Interdisciplinary Management Science - that it is due to a group or Head of state of a country, government they can avert or bring such powerful force of nature to act, engage and surface and develop.

There have been a number of leading international personalities we have had such working - former President Bill Clinton - that leading personality in the USA they associate with climate change his view formerly and how they changed. At EU level those who know of our views.

We will not talk about Africa - we have helped then fior instance the Geldorf Live Aid and their reaction and attitude to our person. We just trust Sechelles Seychelles is not going down that road.

Bad weather persists - 29.01.2013
Red alert over Mahe and inner islands

Mahe, Praslin and La Digue were on red alert yesterday as heavy rain continued to drench the islands causing flooding and travel problems in many areas.

Flooded roads at Pointe Larue yesterday afternoon

The command centre within the Ministry of Environment and Energy raised the alert code to red after the weather forecast showed continued extreme weather including heavy rain. Code red means that the situation currently being experienced is classified as severe with all emergency protocol in place.

As a result of the alert, members of the public were asked to stay at home and to only make essential trips to avoid road blockage or accidents that could hamper the work of the emergency services.

After the situation had improved Sunday night following heavy rainfall on Saturday and during the day Sunday, the sun was out yesterday morning before it started raining again causing roads to flood as many rivers and streams were already swollen.

The weather bureau at Pointe Larue recorded several sites that had more than 100mm of rain – Pointe Au Sel 184mm, Cascade 137mm and airport 113m – in the 24 hours from 7am on Saturday to 7am on Sunday.

Principal meteorologist Vincent Amelie told Seychelles Nation that more rain fell yesterday compared to Sunday. He added that it rained over almost the whole of Mahe and it was reported that some areas in the north and west of Mahe have been hit by a string of floods.

Mr Amelie noted that the tropical depression, which is responsible for the bad weather, will start to fall apart, putting Mahé and the surrounding islands in a clearer zone.
All essential services have been on duty to deal with any emergency.

The environment department has also beefed up its team with employees of the marine park and landscape divisions.

Environment and Energy Minister, Professor Rolph Payet, noted that they are doing their best to help everyone whose homes or premises have been affected by flood or mud.
He reassured members of the public that additional manpower has been sent to west and north Mahé to deal with the situations there.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has said that children of the Pointe Larue, Anse Aux Pins and Au Cap schools will not attend school for the second consecutive day today and they will be informed when to. This is because the compounds of the three schools have been flooded since Sunday.

http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=30287

Aftermath of bad weather - 29.01.2013
Disaster task force set up

President James Michel yesterday convened an extraordinary cabinet meeting at State House in the wake of the disaster caused by heavy rain which hit four districts situated on the east coast of Mahe during the weekend and announced the setting up of a task force to better address the situation.

President Michel presiding over the meeting yesterday

On Sunday afternoon, accompanied by the Minister for Environment Dr Rolph Payet, President Michel toured some of the affected areas to see for himself the damage caused by flooding, landslide and rock fall.

After the tour the President stopped at the DRDM (Department of Risk and Disaster Management) command centre at Mont Fleuri to review some of the images that had been filmed and take stock of the coordination work being carried out there.

He said the extraordinary meeting yesterday with the ministers and some key technicians was to better assess the disaster situation and explore the best way to address it.

“Even though we were expecting heavy rain no one had expected it to be that intense and the damage caused so serious, bringing with it a lot of misery and suffering for people in these affected areas,” said the President.

Mr Michel said in the wake of the unprecedented disaster of the weekend and with the possibility of more rain, it is important that all ministries and agencies join their effort on site to seek ways to mitigate the impact of any other possible disasters.

The President also said it is important now to continue assessing the damage caused and to help all the people affected and find ways to minimise as much as possible the impact of such extreme weather in the future.

“There is a lot of work awaiting us and a lot of resources will be required and we should be prepared and ready to mobilise as much resources as possible to help all the people who have been severely affected,” added the President.

“The situation is serious. There has been a lot of damage to many houses. I was pained by the suffering of the people I met,” said the President.

“We will do everything we can to help and to assess the level of damage of the affected areas. For this reason I am setting up a task force to address the emerging issues concerning the disaster,” said President Michel following the meeting.

The President said the task force will be chaired by the designated Minister and Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sport Vincent Meriton and will also comprise the Minister for Environment and Energy, Professor Rolph Payet; Minister for Land Use and Housing, Christian Lionnet; the principal secretaries for Community Development Denis Rose and Finance Steve Fanny; the leader of government business in the National Assembly, Marie-Antoinette Rose; the chief executives of the Seychelles Land Transport Agency Parinda Herath and the Seychelles Agricultural Agency Marc Naiken; a representative of the Red Cross, Public Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The President commended the National Risk and Disaster Management Committee, chaired by Professor Payet, and the DRDM for the excellent work they did during the weekend and asked them to intensify their effort to ensure that further damage does not occur in the affected areas.

“We will set up a National Disaster Relief Fund imminently in order to raise local and international financial assistance for the families who were left without a home during the floods, as well as those who will need to repair their homes, as well as the surrounding infrastructure,” said the President.

Details concerning the National Disaster Relief Fund will be provided by the task force once the necessary legal framework has been put into place.

Mr Michel also thanked all the emergency services, the SPDF, the Red Cross, the Police, members of the National Assembly as well as all the district brigade volunteers who joined forces to help the people of the four districts, namely, Cascade, Pointe Larue, Anse Aux Pins and Au Cap.

“There was a remarkable team spirit to help the people who were in need. The solidarity of the Seychellois people was clear for all to see. Even people who do not live in those areas came to help. We are proud of the strong spirit of solidarity among our people,” said President Michel.

In an interview after the meeting Minister Meriton said the task force will address emerging issues from the weekend’s heavy rain.

Among the issues that will be tackled are public infrastructure such as retaining walls which have sustained severe damage, new walls that need to be erected, drains and roads, housing, a number of which have been severely damaged and need to be assessed, other personal issues where properties have been damaged or lost.

“The task force will assess all the damages and then make a proposal which it will submit to government,” he said.

Minister Meriton said the task force will work closely with the DRDM. He noted that it is through working with the DRDM that different levels of need in public infrastructure, personal needs of the people affected, agricultural losses have been identified.

He noted that the task force will start work immediately with a meeting with the DRDM to give a preliminary evaluation of the situation at district level.

http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=30288

Disaster-hit residents welcome agencies’ swift action - 29.01.2013

Many residents of the four districts which were hit by effects of bad weather on Sunday said they were impressed and grateful by the joint efforts of different organisations to help them.

A family at Cayole assessing damage after their new house was left hanging by a landslide (Photo by G.T.)

A Cayole – Anse aux Pins family whose house was inundated by floods from a newly created “river” said they were surprised to see officials and teams from other districts coming to their aid.

“I was a bit confused to see Les Mamelles district administrator Doris Kiwale deep inside my district but then the grateful family realised the government was pooling together all its resources to help its people,” said a member of the family who asked not to be named.

He said the group included Disaster and Risk Management officials who took pictures of landslides and other forms of situations that need to be addressed, as other teams helped residents to clean up mud which had filled up their houses.

The teams worked under the guidance of officials from the Anse aux Pins district administration.

“A total of 350 families have been affected so officials from just one district cannot be able to cover all the places so we joined the affected districts to help,” Mrs Kiwale told Nation in the highland areas of Anse aux Pins, where landslide and collapsed walls were the major problem along with flooding, which affected low lying areas also, especially on Saturday.

Another family was full of praise for the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces personnel, “who came just before floods from the (yesterday’s) mid-morning rain hit our house again”.

“They quickly dug a channel and diverted the water. The risk of flooding is gone – for now at least,” they told Nation.

Unlike the low-lying grounds which suffered only from flooding, houses on inclined ground were hit in pairs generally.

Soil, rocks and trees would dislodge from the lower parts of homes and be flung at speed to the home further down destroying it or covering it in mud.

Embankments close to houses gave way to the weight of water from the heavy rains and they slammed into houses, filling the homes with water and mud.

http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=30294

http://sbcw.sbcseychelles.com/Television/News/2013-01-29%20TV-8PM-News.wmv

We listened to the News on SBC 6pm, the issues of the disaster Funds set up and read the news Nation particularly about LUNGOS meeting under it New Executive - the negative direction this National NGO is taking - it is being hijack, just like the Somali and Nigerian Pirates - yet the very high investment in that Prison at Montagne Posee for the pirates and the media coverage, the EU and regional force involvement - when Seychelles government choose to act and behave in such manner it is normal and they have been doing this for 21 years. It is not proper and normal that a Minister is invited to attend such a function is given the platform to lecture the NGO - the normal process is they lecture the government and Ministers and their respective institutions.

We decided to protest and not make any entry on our community forums - we save the picture. Instead addressed the issues of the Opposition alliance and the manner we did it - suddenly the Abu Dabi government donated $2 millions towards the national disaster fund.

We address the Opposition in Seychelles and the people - that portal and our greater EU and international workings have the capacity to drive important Gulf region, big finance, politic, Arms industry and major policy making. For the past 21 years what has been going on - then we have president Michel accusing the world of double standard and the SFP Blog position. {We express our appreciation of help and solidarity towards the people - but that is no excuse}

We want to state to those who care in Seychelles - that weather situation we have been addressing for 21 years - we repeat. What we have written about the Head of State and its people can avoid such disaster - yet President JA Michel - Take the Liberian Mr Taylor, President Saddam Hussein and president Gaddafi, beside the mega mess in North Africa and the Gulf Region on going - our contributions in their nation workings in Europe and other places those who know we have intervened and helped them - when it was too late then the regrets. We do trust President J A Michel can pull back and think. Further more he is the Head of University of Seychelles, his approach to logic thinking and intelligent decision making is being compromise.

Our greater Exile/Refugee European and international workings has mechanism and they /it can react very negatively when those overtly abuse it workings and manipulate to extreme - give false accountability. There is the requirement to ask some mathematic of those who surround President JA Michel - you create/make a negative situation and it will cost the nation years to recoup and rebuild - $25/50 millions and the people health, the wast of resources - and you get in return for that $10 - $15 millions as help. this is a politic of four step forward and three backwards. A worse incident could occur - what will he do and on who will he blame.


Abu Dhabi UAE donates 2 million USD for Disaster Relief

February,5,2013-- The Government of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates has today donated 2 million US Dollars to the National Disaster Relief Fund in order to bring assistance to the people in Seychelles who suffered in the course of the flooding disaster last week.

"On behalf of the people and the Government of Seychelles, I would like to thank the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, H.H. General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the people of the UAE for their generous donation at this time of need. We are deeply grateful for this gesture of compassion which reflects the deep ties of friendship which exist between Abu Dhabi and Seychelles. This will greatly aid in the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts of the communities which were affected by the disaster," said President Michel.

The President said that other individuals had contacted the Fund to give donations and urged individuals and organisations to continue to gather more support for the fund in Seychelles and abroad.


Editor’s Note

The United Arab Emirate has been one of the main partners to give assistance to Seychelles in the following areas;

• The UAE government provided budget support assistance to the Seychelles Government of USD 15 million for the 2008 economic reform programme.
• In 2009, the UAE announced a USD 30 million grant to construct houses on Perseverance Island as part of the government’s scheme to offer affordable housing to the whole population.
• The UAE also funded a new diagnostic centre for Seychelles Hospital worth USD 11 million in 2010.
• In 2010, the UAE government donated two electricity generators worth 15 million USD.
• In June 2011, 3 desalination plants were donated by Government of Abu Dhabi, in order to alleviate the drought situation on Mahe island.
• The MASDAR Company, based in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the Seychelles Energy Commission, has developed wind power renewable energy in Seychelles with a donation of USD 25 million from the UAE.
• The UAE has also donated 40 buses to be used by SPTC in a bid to maintain the accessibility and affordability of the public transportation system.

• The Education sector has also benefited from UAE assistance through the introduction of a new e-learning project in 2011 which saw Intel-Learning IT equipment installed in all schools under the Sheikh Khalifa Schools IT Project.

• Following the President’s visit to Abu Dhabi in 2007, the UAE government had also donated 1 twin otter aircraft for surveillance of our EEZ and 4.5 million USD worth of equipment for Victoria Hospital. The UAE also donated 5 patrol boats in 2011 to the Seychelles Coast Guard, and also built a new Coastguard base and its radar system, which form part of a 15 million USD grant.

• The total value of support from the UAE in the 2009-2011 period is estimated at almost 100 million USD.

http://www.statehouse.gov.sc/index.php/news-archive/1128-abu-dhabi-uae-donates-2-million-usd-for-disaster-relief[i]

National Disaster Relief - 05.02.2013
Funds start coming in

Only a few days after he was bestowed with an award for his exemplary leadership, President James Michel has shown yet again that he is indeed a man who leads by example by being among the first, along with the government of Mauritius, to make contributions to the National Disaster Relief Fund.

Members of the National Disaster Relief Fund during their meeting yesterday

The contributions to the fund came to light during the second meeting of the National Disaster Relief Fund board held at the Oceangate House yesterday in the presence of Designated Minister and Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Vincent Meriton, who chairs the task force set up by President James Michel in the wake of the disasters caused by the recent heavy rains.

The meeting learned that President Michel has donated R136,800 which is his annual gratuity for the year 2012, and the Mauritian cabinet has agreed to Mauritius making a contribution of US $100,000 to Seychelles for reconstruction works on Mahé following widespread structural damage to roads, bridges and houses caused by severe flooding on January 27, 2013.

The National Disaster Relief Fund has replaced the National Emergency Foundation created in 2005, with the introduction of new legislation last week allowing for the incorporation of the foundation’s assets into the new fund.

National Disaster Relief Fund chairman Lekha Nair, who is also the principal secretary for President’s Office Administration, said a sum of R1.5 million which was in the account of the National Emergency Foundation has already been transferred to the National Disaster Relief Fund account at the Nouvobanq.

In fact, the National Disaster Relief Fund has two accounts – one in US dollars (32-0-02-043457-00-4) and the other in Seychelles rupees (01-0-02-043457-00-4) – at the Nouvobanq and all cheques should be made out to National Disaster Relief Fund. The swift code is NOVHSCS.

Mrs Nair added that the National Disaster Relief Fund has also approved, during its first meeting last Friday, to disburse R130,000 to the Red Cross Society of Seychelles to buy food for people who have been directly affected by heavy rains which hit four districts situated on the east coast of Mahé – Cascade, Pointe Larue, Anse Aux Pins and Au Cap – from January 26-29.

She said the National Disaster Relief Fund decided to meet the task force chairman, Minister Meriton, to plan ahead and see how they can work in close collaboration as all requests are being made through the task force.

“The task force has most of the information we need. This is because those affected by the flooding disaster and are seeking financial assistance still need to make their requests at the district administration office. These requests are then sent to the task force. Liaising with the task force makes it easier for us to identify people who are in need,” said Mrs Nair.

Minister Meriton added that the assessment team, made up of experts in different fields, has concluded that a sum of R120 million will be needed to rectify the damage caused by the disaster and put preventive measures in place.

“A number of international organisations have pledged their support to Seychelles and those who have been directly affected by the bad weather,” said Minister Meriton, who added that for all maintenance or construction works to be done, three quotations will be needed.

This, he notes, will bring fairness in how the money raised by the National Disaster Relief Fund is being used.

The National Disaster Relief Fund board has to keep proper accounts and other records of the monies of the fund and prepare for each calendar year a statement of accounts, and has to get its accounts audited under article 158 of the Constitution.

Mrs Nair added that a weekly report of money collected will be made available so that people see for themselves how much money has been raised and how much has been disbursed.

The third meeting of the National Disaster Relief Fund is on Thursday.

Other than chairperson Nair, the other members of the National Disaster Relief Fund appointed by President Michel are Patrick Payet, Alain De Commarmond, Colette Servina, Bernard Pool and Nirmal Jivan Shah.
The National Disaster Relief Fund has four main objectives:

• To raise funds from governments, private individuals, corporations, associations and other institutions or bodies in Seychelles and elsewhere;

• To use the funds to assist persons in cases of emergencies, such as floods, fires, tsunamis, landslides and other natural causes;

• To provide temporary relief to small businesses which have suffered significantly through above causes by extending short-term loans for purchase of equipment, raw materials or related products;

• To assist charitable organisations in achieving the above objectives.

Among the issues that the task force has tackled are public infrastructure such as retaining walls which have sustained severe damage, new walls that need to be erected, drains and roads, housing, a number of which have been severely damaged and need to be assessed, other personal issues where properties have been damaged or lost.

Besides its chairman Mr Meriton, the task force also comprises the Minister for Environment and Energy, Professor Rolph Payet; Minister for Land Use and Housing, Christian Lionnet; the principal secretaries for Community Development and Sports Denis Rose, and Finance Steve Fanny; the leader of government business in the National Assembly, Marie-Antoinette Rose; the chief executives of the Seychelles Land Transport Agency Parinda Herath and the Seychelles Agricultural Agency Marc Naiken; a representative of the Red Cross, Public Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=30364
http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=30367
http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=30368