ReliefWeb

Summary: CHF 117,612 was allocated from the IFRC Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Gabonese Red Cross National Society to provide emergency assistance to some 1,606 beneficiaries (321 families). Unearmarked funds to replenish DREF are encouraged.

This operation is expected to be implemented over 4 months, and will therefore be completed by the end of October, 2012; a Final Report will be made available by 7 January, 2013 (three months after the end of the operation).

The situation

Heavy rains hit the capital city of Libreville in early June 2012, causing serious floods that impacted the residential areas of SOTEGA, Cocotier, Avea, Boulevard Akébé frontier, Apostrophe, Belle Vue 3, Awendje CES B2, Plein ciel/ODEKA, PK 5 and Nzeng’Ayong. One person died and a total of some 77,845 people (15,569 families) have been affected. Of these families, 321 (some 1,606) are considered most vulnerable and are considered in particular need. Most of the affected families have lost many household possessions (furniture, beddings, cooking utensils). Since no resettlement site has been identified, some of the families made homeless are being hosted by their relatives while the majority is still in their destroyed or damaged residences. The Gabonese Red Cross has responded by providing immediate emergency assistance to the most vulnerable in the form of non-food relief supplies, and by reinforcing hygiene and sanitation promotion efforts to reduce the risk of contamination from dirty water.