Appeal history:
- This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on a preliminary basis on 11 July 2008 for CHF 750,000 for 2 months to assist 47,500 beneficiaries.
- Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF): CHF 483,047 was allocatedfrom the Federation's DREF to support the National Societies and contingency stocks.
- Operations Update no. 1 was issued on 14 August, 2008.
- The Appeal was revised and extended on 11 September 2008, bringing the overall appeal budget to CHF 1,082,233 (USD 983,845 or EUR 670,111), and extending the operation through the end of November 2008.
Summary: The Red Cross Societies of Benin and Togo, with support from the International Federation, have been providing humanitarian assistance to people affected by floods caused by torrential rainfalls during the months of June- September 2008. The National Societies have procured non-food items (NFI) and have mobilized and deployed their volunteers and staff in the affected communities todistribute the items to the most vulnerable affected families. In collaboration with government agencies, UN agencies, international and local NGOs as well as other Movement partners, the Red Cross Societies of Benin and Togo have also distributed food items and additional non-food items to the affected population. To prevent the potential outbreak of epidemics, trained Red Cross volunteers have been carrying out health education and good hygiene practices in the target communities and camps. Serious flooding has also affected the Mambere Kadei prefecture of the Central African Republic (CAR), and additional countries are affected by smaller-scale flooding. The Federation has assisted the CAR and other National Societies to respond to smaller scale floods (Ghana, Senegal, and the Gambia).