The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 185 countries.
In Brief
This Bulletin (no. 01/2007) is being issued for information only, and reflects the status of the situation and information available at this time. The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time.
For further information specifically related to this operation please see contact details on the last page.
The Situation
With the onset of spring, Afghanistan has been experiencing floods in the northern regions caused by melting snow and heavy rains. On 30 April 2007, floods occurred in Wado valley and Tala-u-Barfak district of Baghlan province. According to an assessment report from the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), one person was killed, 20 injured, 25 houses totally destroyed and five houses partially destroyed. On 02nd May, floods and hailstorms hit Monhaghar, Khurram-u-Sarbagh, Feroz Nakhchair and Hazarti Sultan districts of Samangan province. Assessment reports, from the ARCS provincial branch in Samangan, state that four people were killed, six were missing, three houses were totally destroyed and 126 houses were partially destroyed. On 2nd / 3rd May, floods occurred in Jurm, Teshkan, Keran-o-Menjan, Kishm and Baharak districts of Badakhshan province. According to assessment reports from the ARCS's Badakhshan branch, 23 people were killed, 190 houses were totally destroyed, 400 houses were partially destroyed and hundreds of hectares of agricultural lands were washed away.
Red Cross and Red Crescent action
Assessments and distribution
ARCS provincial branches deployed assessment teams and emergency mobile units to the flood affected areas in the northern region. Three teams were deployed to assess the situation in Jurm, Keran-o-Manjan and Kishm districts of Badakhshan province. Based on their assessment report, ARCS dispatched non-food items (tents, blankets, jerry cans and tarpaulin) for 150 affected families identified as being under category A (with houses almost fully destroyed) in Badakhshan province.
Coordination
On 6th May, a coordination meeting was held between the ARCS, the government's department for disaster preparedness (DDP), World Food Programme (WFP), Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and its affiliated group - Focus Humanitarian Assistance, and GTZ, at the DDP office in Badakhshan. The aim of the meeting was to analyse the situation and provide assistance to the affected families. The contribution of stakeholders involved in the disaster response has been as follows:
- WFP contributed food ration (consisting of 100 kilograms of wheat flour per family, 7 kilograms of cooking oil per family, 1 kilogram of salt per family and 10 kilograms of split peace per family),
- GTZ contributed non-food items (consisting of 200 tents, 200 kitchen sets and 200 tarpaulins),
- The non-profit charity, Afghan Aid, contributed 737 sets of clothing items and US$ 5,000 for the cleaning of water canals,
- Focus Humanitarian Assistance contributed non-food items (20 tents, 100 blankets and 100 tarpaulins) as well as 3,000 kilograms of food items (beans),
- AKDN provided US$ 10,000 for the cleaning of water canals.
All stakeholders agreed that relief distribution for affected families should be carried out by the respective ARCS branches in the affected areas. The Federation is replenishing the disaster preparedness stock (non-food items) of the ARCS's provincial branch in Badakhshan.
How we work
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
The Federation's Global Agenda
The International Federation undertakes activities that are aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".
Global Agenda Goals:
Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.
Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.
Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.
Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.
Contact information
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
Afghanistan Red Crescent Society: Fatima Gailani (president); email: fatigli@yahoo.com; Mobile: +93.79.385.533
Federation country delegation in Afghanistan: Davood Pourkhanali (head of delegation); email:davood.pourkhanali@ifrc.org; mobile: +93.70.274.881; fax: +87.33.8228.0534
Federation South Asia regional delegation in India: Anitta Underlin (head of regional delegation);email: anitta.underlin@ifrc.org; phone: +91.11. 2411.1125; fax: +91.11. 2411.1128
Federation Secretariat in Geneva (Asia Pacific department): Hiroto Oyama (regional officer); email:hiroto.oyama@ifrc.org; Phone: +41.22.730.4273; Fax: +41.22.733.0395 or Gokce Balcik (senior assistant); email: gokce.balcik@ifrc.org; phone: +44.22.730.4429; fax: +41.22 733.0395