SENEGAL CRISIS SIMULATION EXERCISES AT THE BORDER

DAGANA | 30 November 2016

« Border communities’ engagement in border security and management in Senegal» a project

financed by the US Government and implemented by IOM at the border with Mauritania

IOM Senegal executed an exercise on management of displaced people at the border in Dagana–

region of Saint Louis, financed by the US Government and with the collaboration of Senegalese

authorities.

THE SCENARIO

The topic of this exercise focused on a serious emergency situation occurring in a country neigh-

boring Senegal, caused by several criminal attacks that provoked a massive displacement of popu-

lation escaping from the danger. Within the 150 people escaping, some of them presented differ-

ent types of injuries (bullet wounds, fractures, traumas, contagious or not contagious diseases,

etc.). Also, armed people were infiltrated among the displaced population- to eliminate eventual

witnesses of the attacks. Drug traffickers were also infiltrated, trying to escape the police pursuit

and to save their goods. People escaping by crossing the river Senegal by pirogues to find safe

have in Senegal, were helped by 200 people playing the role of the hosting community.

Different groups were organized: the regional crisis cell based at Saint Louis, the communities,

the security forces and rescue-health services.

A serious engagement

11 IOM evaluators and 13 observers Senegalese authorities | US government delegates |

IOM staff

A strong mobilization

450 PARTICIPANTS Communities | Local authorities |Security forces

|Safety and health services

To consolidate efforts made in humanitarian border manage-

ment response and preparedness and to extend them at the

regional level, IOM Niger will execute crisis simulation exer-

cises in Niger, in close coordination with IOM Senegal and

Flintlock military exercise in the neighbor country of Chad.

These exercises are part of the project “Community engage-

ment on border management mechanism in Niger”, imple-

mented by IOM and financed by the US Government.

1 Debarkation site

(first identification proce-

dures; urgent medical assis-

tance)

2 Gathering point

(to identify and register dis-

placed people; to distribute

hygienic kits, blankets, water

and food; medical and psycho-

logical assistance)

Locations of the crisis simulation exercise in Dagana—aerial view

OBJECTIVES OF THE EXERCISE

To assess efficiency of a crisis contingency plan

To enhance capacities of border authorities and communities to respond to a crisis at the

border

To enhance communication, coordination and cooperation between border communities

and local authorities

IOM Senegal • Zone 3, Route des Almadies • Dakar, Senegal BP 16838• +221338696200 • codakar@iom.int •

www.facebook.com/OIMSenegal/

Photos © Sylvain Cherkaoui/Cosmos for IOM

The crisis simulation exercise in Dagana came after a previous

exercise also in real conditions executed by IOM in Matam –

in the Nord East of Senegal, at the Mauritanian border- on the

24th of February 2016, with 500 people participating. This first

exercise in Matam allowed to identify the material needs and

the lack of training for the communities. Based on these re-

sults, an emergency contingency plan was developed, propos-

ing a detailed template of intervention in case of an emergency

along the border.

REGIONAL LEVEL

Crisis simulation exercise in Niger in 2017