Summary: CHF 92,668 had been allocated originally from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 9th February 2012 to support the Macedonian Red Cross in delivering assistance to some 1,300 beneficiaries, and to replenish the disaster preparedness stocks. However, the National Society revised its operational plan in view of the evolving situation with a budget increase of CHF 71,079 (Update n°1, 24th February 2012). The revised budget for this operation amounted to a total of CHF 163,747, reaching 5,100 beneficiaries.

The Macedonian Red Cross delivered goods (food parcels, hygiene parcels, blankets, rubber boots, and warm clothes) in most cases directly to the affected population. The Macedonian National Emergency Response Unit (NERU) provided assistance in some cases to the local branches for better and faster distribution, and the Macedonian Red Cross also cooperated with the Ministry of Defence by using military air transport. The rest of the items were delivered by those Red Cross local branches which had capacities and vehicles available for that purpose. The distribution was conducted by air and 4X4 cars as well as on donkeys and horses, on skis and on foot. Approximately 200 volunteers were involved in this operation in the whole country. The expectations towards the beneficiaries were high, because the target group mainly comprised elderly people in separate households or families with small children with low income and low social security background. The relief items they received helped them to overcome the situation caused by the extreme winter conditions.

All in all, the operation was well implemented with mainly foreseen challenges that could be handled. The local branches were closely cooperating with the local governmental institutions, and provided information on a daily basis to the National Society Headquarters. The Macedonian Red Cross also closely cooperated on the national level with the institutions that are part of the disaster management system.

After earlier other crises in Macedonia, the Red Cross now had a chance for the first time to manage the disaster response operation with international support (DREF) and to organize a relief operation in the whole country. This was achieved with the continuous support of the local Red Cross branches and through their capacities, network and willingness to take actions. Local branch teams were involved in distributing aid and in visiting old people in remote villages to check on their health and general situation. Totally 5,108 beneficiaries or 1,310 families were covered by this relief operation and another 100 homeless people in the capital city of Skopje. At first 300 families (1,200 beneficiaries) and 100 homeless people in the Red Cross Homeless Centre in Skopje were supported, and due to the continuous extreme weather conditions additional 950 families were reached.

The Canadian Red Cross and Canadian International Development Agency contributed CHF 20,000 to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund in replenishment of the allocation made for this operation. After finalizing operations there is a final balance of CHF 619 that will be returned to the DREF funds.

The major donors and partners of DREF include the Australian, American and Belgian Governments, the Austrian Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross and the Canadian Government, the Danish Red Cross and the Danish Government, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), the Irish and the Italian Governments, the Japanese Red Cross Society, the Luxembourg Government, the Monaco Red Cross and the Monaco Government, the Netherlands Red Cross and the Netherlands Government, the Norwegian Red Cross and the Norwegian Government, the Spanish Government, the Swedish Red Cross and the Swedish Government, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the Medtronic and Z Zurich Foundations, and other corporate and private donors.

The IFRC, on behalf of the Red Cross Society of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, would like to extend their thanks to all donors and partners for their generous contributions.

Details of all donors can be found at http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/Active/MAA00010_2012.pdf