In a new decade, humanitarian actors are facing immense challenges. The number of people affected by climate disasters will continue to rise, having a huge impact on migration and livelihoods of millions of people, as was reported in our latest issue of Coping with Crisis.

Furthermore, as of 2008, 16 major armed conflicts were active in 15 locations around the world, an increase from the year earlier. The Red Cross Red Crescent will be called upon to meet the challenges of a new decade, and in our efforts lie an opportunity for improved humanitarian action.

"Early warning systems allow populations to evacuate ahead of time and take shelter in emergency and safer buildings," UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Director Salvano Briceño stressed in a statement.

"They give Governments enough time to protect critical infrastructures such as power plants and water tanks which

1 - Rationale, needs and target population :

1.1. - Rationale :

The Caribbean region experiences multiple natural disasters. Tropical storms often take the form of a hurricane1, and the hurricane season lasts for six months. There are also floods, flash floods, tsunamis, landslides and mudslides. Some islands suffer from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The physical risk is combined with socioeconomic factors, such as high population density, fast demographic growth and great poverty. The combination of these factors results in very vulnerable communities,

In Brief

Appeal No. MAA49001; Programme Update no. 2, Period covered: 1 April to 31 July 2006; 2006 Appeal Coverage: 66.4%; Outstanding needs for 2006: CHF 1,184,070 (USD 985,921 or EUR 745,436).

2006 and 2007 Appeal target: CHF

Estos botiquines fueron donados por la Federación Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja como parte del programa de ayuda humanitaria y fortalecimiento de capacidades ante los desastres que esta siendo dirigido a las víctimas de fenómenos como lluvias e huracanes.

In 2005, the United States experienced an unprecedented emergency, which resulted from its worst hurricane season ever. The three hurricanes impacted an area larger than North and South Carolina combined.Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma damaged communities, trapped 40,000 people and wrenched millions from their homes.

By some measures, the 2005 hurricanes created basic human needs that were 10 to 20 times greater than any domestic disaster in the past 125 years.

The challenges, the help and the hope...were all great:

- More than 244,000 people helped-95

Period covered: 28 January to 31 July, 2006

Appeal target: CHF 1,918,000 (USD 1,498,000 or EUR 1,237,000)

Appeal coverage: 76.26%;

Outstanding needs: CHF 455,313 as per the Appeal target. However, due to the receipt of a number of bilateral contributions and donations in-kind, the Federation is no longer seeking funds for this Appeal.

Appeal target: CHF 2,439,411 (USD 1,923,019 or EUR 1,581,564);

Appeal coverage: 74.4%.

This Annual Report reflects activities implemented over a one-year period; they form part of, and are based on, longer-term, multi-year planning (refer below to access the detailed logframe documents). All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes

Context