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 and 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.

CHF 230,629 (USD 229,848 or EUR 152,957) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Argentine Red Cross in delivering immediate assistance to some 944 families. Un-earmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Summary: The Argentine National Meteorological Service reported that since 23 November 2009, the provinces of Salta, Chaco, Entre Rios, Corrientes, Santa Fe and Misiones have been affected by heavy rain and floods. The communities at risk are those in low level areas due to their proximity to the overflowed Parana and Uruguay rivers and the Salado del Sur basin. According to the Argentine Red Cross, approximately 16,600 people have been evacuated and placed in collective centres and an undetermined number of displaced people are being hosted by friends and relatives. In addition, five people have died as a result of this emergency.

This DREF operation is focused on providing health care, essential relief items, hygiene promotion and safe drinking water to the most affected families in the provinces of Chaco, Entre Rios and Corrientes.

This operation is expected to be implemented over a three month period, and will therefore be completed by 2 March 2010; a final report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 2 June 2010).

The situation

On 23 November 2009, heavy storms severely affected the provinces located in the north-eastern region of Argentina. The provinces of Chaco, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Formosa, northern Salta and Santa Fe were affected by the storms and floods that caused damages in several communities.

Province of Chaco

In this province, neighbourhoods were flooded and the electrical services were interrupted temporarily. Approximately, 5,794 people have been evacuated and placed in schools that are currently being used as collective centres, but this number may increase over the upcoming days. School classes had to be postponed and urban transportation has been interrupted. Heavy rainfall in a period of four hours resulted in 98 millimetres of rain in the city of Resistencia, 200mm in the community of Puerto Tirol and 135mm in the community of Margarita Belen.

The most affected neighbourhoods are located in the most vulnerable areas of the southern region and north of the provincial capital. The governor met with the Water Emergency Commission (Comisión de Emergencia Hídrica) and prompted the immediate activation of the contingency plan and collective centres to transfer and assist the most affected people. Several organizations including the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Education, the Water Services Provincial Administration, municipal authorities from Barranqueras, Resistencia, Puerto Tirol and Fontana, and the Argentine Army have been coordinating response activities. The Argentinean army mobilized 14 teams and 7 trucks to evacuate people to the collective centres.