An abundant literature on
the concept of disaster does exist. Disaster can, however, be defined as
"an event that results in destruction, economic disruptions, loss
of human lives and deterioration of health to such an extent that it justifies
an exceptional harnessing of ressources from without the community or the
area concerned."
Over the last twenty years,
Burkina Faso has had to face the effects of large-scale droughts, of grasshopper
invasions, that have necessitated a reorganization of the intervention
bodies.
The importance of the problems
and the need to find efficient and durable solutions have led the authorities
to set up the National Committee for Emergency and Rehabilitation Assistance
(CONASUR) together with its operational intervention bodies in the thirty
provinces of the country.
The major actions aiming at
improving the means of struggle against the effects of disasters, identify
the three main phases (Prevention-Intervention-Rehabilitation) and mention
the procedures as being efficient intervention instruments.
The importance of such a practical
guide or aide-mémoire for the different contributors in case of
disasters is clear enough.
As the experiment unfolds,
the aide-mémoire will be supplemented and revised in order to make
it the most functional possible at the disposal of users.
INSTITUTIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK
Created under decree N°93/069/PRES/SAS-F
of March 5, 1993, the National Committee for Emergency and Rehabilitation
Assistance (CONASUR) has replaced the National Commission for the Struggle
Against the Effects of Drought (CNLES), which was itself created under decree
N°83-330/PRES/MDR of December 10, 1983, and modified under decree N°085-295/PRES/MEFSN
of june 3, 1985.
Placed under the technical
supervision of the Ministry of Social Action, the CONASUR is an inter-ministerial
Committee in charge of setting up and implementing a national plan of emergency
assistance, as well as conducting the coordination, the follow up and assessment
of interventions related to the organisation of prevention, assistance
and rehabilitation.
The CONASUR has a permanent
secretariat at the national level and carries out its action with the help
of decentralized Committees and their permanent secretariats.
