Ouagadougou: Approximately 700 individuals were mobilized in Ouagadougou on Saturday for a comprehensive simulation of the national emergency response plan (ORSEC). This exercise aimed to test the emergency services' ability to respond in a coordinated manner to disaster situations. The scenario, which included 167 fictional victims and one fatality, was spread across two main sites.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the simulation was conducted at two primary locations: the areas around dams No. 2 and No. 3 in Tanghin and a pesticide production facility in Kosso. Key participants included the General Directorate of Civil Protection, the National Fire Brigade (BNSP), the SAMU (Emergency Medical Service), the National Police, the Municipal Police, the Water and Forestry Department, the Red Cross, health services, the SP/CONASUR (National Emergency Response Unit), and the National Armed Forces.
The main objective was to evaluate resource mobilization, coordination among stakeholders, and the care chain for affected individuals, from rescue operations to care, evacuation, and rehousing.
At the Tanghin dams, the scenario involved flooding due to an overflow of water bodies, impacting local populations. Emergency services, including firefighters, SAMU, Red Cross, SP/CONASUR, and defense forces, were engaged in rescue operations and providing care to the fictitious victims. The victims were subsequently taken to a reception center for care, food, and temporary housing. Those requiring medical attention were evacuated to Yalgado-Oudraogo and Bogodogo University Hospitals.
The exercise report highlighted 167 fictitious victims, including one deceased, six in critical condition, 60 with moderate injuries, and 100 individuals affected by the disaster without direct injuries.
The second simulation site involved the Rambo pesticide production unit, where an explosion and fire, along with chemical incidents, were simulated. Joint emergency teams managed fire control, provided care for poisoned individuals, performed decontamination, and administered first aid. A mobile disinfection unit specializing in nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical (NRBC) risks was deployed for this intervention.
The BNSP deployed four ambulances, with the SAMU, Red Cross, and Central Directorate of the Armed Forces Health Service each providing additional ambulances. On the humanitarian side, the SP/CONASUR accommodated 110 people at the disaster relief center, with 36 individuals relocated to a designated site after triage.
Coordination of operations was managed from a command center at the National Meteorological Agency. High-ranking officials, including Colonel Daba Naon of the BNSP and Issa Oudraogo, chief of staff of the Minister of Territorial Administration and Mobility, monitored the exercise in real time and engaged with participants on-site.
Issa Oudraogo emphasized the importance of constant readiness among emergency response actors, stating, "Since disasters don't give warning, we must always be on alert so that whenever a situation arises, we are ready to respond." He encouraged continued preparedness and resource allocation from both public and private entities.
This simulation, the first of its kind at the national level since the adoption of the ORSEC system in 2012, aims to evaluate system effectiveness, strengthen coordination, and identify areas for improvement in preparation for real emergency interventions.