U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)

BACKGROUND

Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, landslides, volcanoes, and drought. In addition, disasters triggered by environmental and industrial incidents, such as forest fires and chemical and oil spills, pose a potential threat. At times,

Glide No. FL-2008-000197-COL

The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.

Summary: CHF 95,700 (USD 87,477 or EUR 60,955) was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency

This report covers the period 01/01/08 to 31/12/08

In brief

Programme purpose: Support the ten National Societies in the South American Region to effectively operationalize the Inter American Plan 2007 - 2011.

Programme summary:

2008 was a transition year for the Federation Secretariat in South America. After the establishment of the Zone office, the Regional Representation for South America reduced its personnel to 16, revised budgets and plans in line with adjusted capacities and support, and implemented the decision to create a second Regional Representation

HIGHLIGHTS:

ARGENTINA: Officials report 12,875 cases of dengue and 355 suspected cases. Figures are disputed by civil organizations.

COLOMBIA: A red alert was declared in the region of Timana, located in the south side of the Huila Department, due to a landslide caused by a geological failure. 450 families have been evacuated so far.

DENGUE OUTBREAK

ARGENTINA: The Ministry of Health reported last week 12,875 cases of dengue and 355 suspected cases. A Law to declare a sanitary emergency in the zones affected by dengue in central

Gracias a los nuevos fondos proporcionados por la Agencia de los Estados Unidos para el Desarrollo Internacional (USAID), la OIM ha podido distribuir hornos industriales, equipo de cocina, colchones y depósitos de agua entre las comunidades afro-colombianas vulnerables, víctimas de las inundaciones, en el departamento de Nariño, al sudeste de Colombia.

Las seis toneladas de ayuda de emergencia se trasladaron por carretera y fueron entregadas al Comité Local para la Prevención y Atención de Desastres (CLOPAD) en el municipio de Tumaco,

Period covered by this Operations Update: 11 March to 26 March 2009.

Appeal target (current): CHF 1,110,665 (USD 957,924 or EUR 757,518)

Appeal coverage: 28%;

Appeal history:

This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on a preliminary basis on 11 March 2009 for CHF 1,110,665 (USD 957,924 or EUR 757,518) for six months to assist 25,000 beneficiaries.

Disaster Relief Emergency Fund DREF): CHF 177,000 (USD 152,369 or EUR 118,932) was initially allocated from the Federation's DREF on 26 February 2009, to support the Colombian Red Cross

Después de un mes de haberse presentado el desastre en el municipio de San Andrés de Tumaco - Nariño, por el desbordamiento del río Mira la Armada Nacional, junto con la Cruz Roja y la administración municipal, contin=FAa liderando las labores de apoyo a los damnificados.

Desde Buenaventura partió hace algunos días el buque ARC "Bahía Solano", con destino a Tumaco con todas las ayudas humanitarias que la Armada Nacional, la Cruz Roja y representantes de la administración municipal gestionaron a través de las diferentes instituciones p=FAblicas y privadas en Buenaventura.

ShelterBox has delivered a consignment of much needed aid to people left homeless by February's devastating floods in southern Colombia in South America.

ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) volunteers Andrew Holland and Peter Hill distributed 50 boxes in the town of Cadellias in Narino Province on 23 March where 500 people made homeless in the disaster had been sheltering in a local college building.

"We carefully assessed the area damaged by the flooding and identified which towns and villages had been worst affected when the rivers broke their banks," says Andrew Holland.

"La afectación más grave está en el tema de vías, en la recuperación de las viviendas averiadas y en el tema de cultivos, porque van de la mano con la reactivación económica de la zona", reportó la Oficina de Atención y Prevención de Desastres del Ministerio del Interior.

Suárez, Cauca, 15 mar (SP). Las 400 familias afectadas por el invierno en el municipio de Suárez (Cauca), han recibido ayuda humanitaria consistente en mercados, colchonetas frazadas, paquetes de aseo, paquetes de cocina y botellones de agua, informó la Directora