This Programme Update is intended for reporting on Annual Appeals.
Period covered: January - March, 2001.
Appeal Target CHF 10,000,000
"At a Glance"
Related Appeals: N/A Outstanding needs: CHF 6,656,518 Summary: The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a key emergency response tool for the Federation, allowing funds to be released immediately after a disaster and facilitating the rapid start up of an emergency operation. DREF resources are made available in response to an appeal, in the process leading to an appeal, or in response to a small scale emergency where an appeal is not feasible. Because allocations are provided on a refundable basis, the DREF is a revolving fund, and contributions are used as leverage so that one donation provides aid well in excess of the actual amount contributed. |
DREF allocations during this period:
CHINA - INNER MONGOLIA BLIZZARDS
On 31 December 2000, a blizzard hit a number of rural prefectures in the Chinese Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia causing the death of 39 people and of over 220,000 head of livestock, the mainstay of the rural economy and the main source of food for herders and their families. The number of people affected as a direct result of the blizzard was estimated at 2.194 million, of whom it is reported that as many as 400,000 were affected by food shortages in the immediate term. In order to respond to the needs, CHF 100,000 was released from the DREF in order to begin the delivery of assistance. An appeal of CHF 3,056,180 was launched on 25 January to provide urgently needed food, quilts and fuel supplies to help 60,000 of the most vulnerable herders survive the harshest winter for 50 years.
Allocated: CHF 100,000
Date: 10 January, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Appeal launched 25 January 2001
Situation Reports nos. 1, 2 & 3 respectively issued 27 February, 9 March and 11 April
INDIA - EARTHQUAKE
At 08.50 hours on Friday, 26 January, a series of powerful earthquakes struck Gujarat state in western India, peaking at a massive 7.9 on the Richter scale, with tremors being felt across several states as well as in Delhi and Mumbai (Bombay) and in neighbouring Pakistan. The epicentre of the quake was 30 km north of the town of Bhuj (population of 150,000). Infrastructure was severely damaged, resulting in large scale collapse of buildings, mine cave-ins, train derailments and power failures, cutting off the water supply. A series of aftershocks (more than 400 of which 19 measured over 5 on the Richter scale) kept the population and the authorities on constant alert. The official figures estimated 20,005 deaths, 166,000 injured and 247 missing persons; 370,000 houses were fully demolished (including pucca and kachcha houses and huts). The Federation released CHF 200,000 from the DREF to begin the relief operations and support the deployment of a Field Assessment Response Team (FACT).
Allocated: CHF 200,000
Date: 26 January, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Preliminary Appeal launched on 26 January, 2001.
Appeal no. 03/01 launched 30 January 2001.
20 Situation Reports have been issued from January to March.
BOLIVIA - FLOODS
Exceptionally heavy rains falling continually throughout Bolivia since December 2000 caused floods and landslides. The rainy season usually begins in mid-January and continues until March. The initial estimate indicated that 7,240 families had been affected throughout the country. The Bolivian Red Cross carried out damage and needs analysis assessments, assisted by the Federation’s regional disaster preparedness and relief delegate based in La Paz, and undertook a relief operation. CHF 150,000 was released from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to boost relief efforts and expedite the delivery of assistance. The Bolivian Red Cross rescue workers were involved in evacuations and the setting up of temporary shelters, and branches in the affected areas assisted with delivering supplies, in co-operation with other involved institutions.
Allocated: CHF 150,000
Date: 26 January, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Appeal no. 05/01 launched 1 February, 2001.
Situation report nos. 1, 2 and 3 respectively issued 8 and 14 February and 19 March
SUDAN - FOOD SECURITY
Severe drought across many parts of Sudan is affecting several million people, many of whom are at acute risk of severe food insecurity over the coming months. Low and sporadic rainfall severely affected agricultural production and depleted water resources. Stagnation in the livestock trade has reduced access to this traditional source of extra income, hence further eroding the coping capacities of the affected communities. A low immunization coverage and the usual health risks related to a scarcity of safe drinking water threatened to increase the incidence of mortality and morbidity through preventable diseases. Access to safe water, as well as emergency food and medical care were identified as the most critical interventions required. CHF 29,000 was released from the Federation’s DREF to support an evaluation mission in Darfur, Kordofan, Red Sea and Kassala states.
Allocated: CHF 29,000
Date: 30 January, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Appeal no. 11/01 launched on 2 March, 2001.
GUINEA CONAKRY - REFUGEES
The beginning of 2001 was characterized by a series of escalating attacks on the town of Gueckédou and surrounding areas. It is estimated that one third of the city has been destroyed. Approximately 200,000 Sierra Leonean refugees are estimated to remain in Gueckédou prefecture with an estimated 150,000 in Languette. This area, part of the prefecture of Gueckédou, is virtually cut off from humanitarian aid for security reasons. Humanitarian agencies consider the only viable option is the eventual transfer of these refugees to safer areas. Fighting in the Gueckédou area has prompted refugees to flee the two camps of Kat-Kama and Boodou, leaving them completely deserted while other camps have seen a considerable influx, including Nyaédou (17 kilometers from Gueckédou) and Massakoundou (10 km from Kissidougou) where it is estimated that their population had doubled to 25,000 and 35,000 respectively. UNHCR and Government authorities identified sites for new camps to be built away from the border areas. CHF 150,000 was allocated and released from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the immediate delivery of the required assistance and relief activities. A two-person Field Assessment and Co-ordination Team (FACT) was deployed to Guinea to provide support to the operation and to establish a revised plan of action.
Allocated: CHF 150,000
Date: 15 February, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Annual Appeal no. 03/01.
Situation Report nos. 1, 2 & 3 respectively issued 16 February, 19 March, and 10 May.
KENYA - REFUGEES
On 29 January 2001, an unexpected influx of Tanzanian refugees started streaming into Shimoni and Msambweni Divisions of Kwale District, Coastal Province, Kenya from neighbouring Pemba and Zanzibar Island of Tanzania after political clashes triggered by contested results of a previous election. The refugees arrived in boats, many with injuries suffered during the riots. To date the Kenya Red Cross Society Mombassa branch has registered 1,400 refugees and provided relief assistance and tracing services to the refugees. 50,000 CHF was release from the Federation’s DREF to provide immediate shelter and health assistance to the refugees.
Allocated: CHF 50,000
Date: 23 February, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: No.
CAMEROON - MENINGITIS
Since January 2001, health authorities in the north-west province of Cameroon reported multiple cases of meningitis in two districts: Wum and Mbengwi. Epidemic thresholds were reached in both districts by the end of January. As of February , 270 cases were reported with 22 death. The Ministry of Health has set up a co-ordinating commission, the membership of which includes the Cameroon Red Cross Society. The Federation released CHF 20,500 from the DREF in order to support the Cameroon Red Cross in population mobilization activities in affected areas.
Allocated: CHF 20,500
Date: 27 February, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Information Bulletin no. 1 issued 1 March 2001.
MALAWI - FLOODS
Floods occurred in the lower shire area of Malawi covering the region extending from Chikwawa to Nsanje, following the course of the Lilongwe river, flowing towards the Zambezi and the Mozambique coast. The districts of Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe and Blantyre were the worst affected where 60,000 people from 117 villages were reported to have been made homeless and nine people had lost their lives. The Federation transferred CHF 100,000 from it’s DREF in order to ensure a prompt response to the needs and a field assessment and co-ordination (FACT) team was deployed. Additionally, the Malawi Red Cross Society supported by the Harare Regional Delegation sent three teams from the headquarters in Lilongwe to Nsanje, Chikwawa and Salima to provide relief items, to continue assessment of the situation and to mobilize volunteers.
Allocated: CHF 100,000
Date: 28 February, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Preliminary Appeal 09/01 launched 28 February, 2001. Revised Appeal 09/01 issued on the 26 March 2001. Programme Update nos. 1 & 2 respectively issued 12 March and 5 May, 2001.
ETHIOPIA - MENINGITIS
Ethiopia lies in the African Meningitis Belt and has suffered major epidemics in 1981 when 50,000 cases were registered and nearly one thousand people died. In 1989, 46,000 cases were registered and 1,700 people died. Major epidemics usually occur every 8 to 12 years in the belt. Last year, there was a major outbreak in Addis Ababa between June and August with over 850 cases and 33 deaths. This was brought under control through a very successful mass vaccination campaign in which Red Cross played an important role. In October, cases were reported in West Gojam zone in the Amahara region and by December four more zones were affected and by February sixteen zones had reported cases. The Federation transferred CHF 200,000 from the DREF in order to assist in the procurement of a first batch of 200,000 vaccines and jump start the operation.
Allocated: CHF 200,000
Date: 1 March, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Appeal no. 12/01 launched on 7 March, 2001. Situation Report no. 1 issued on 23 March 2001.
HUNGARY, UKRAINE AND ROMANIA - FLOODS
Rapidly melting snow and heavy rain caused the Tisa river and its tributaries to rise to record levels, provoking some of the worst flooding in Central Europe in decades. Wide areas of Hungary, Romania and Ukraine were affected, forcing whole communities from their homes and seriously impacting upon the future well being of the population. Red Cross National Societies in all three countries responded and sought to consolidate and strengthen their relief operation. CHF 150,000 was allocated from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), with CHF 50,000 for each country.
Allocated: CHF 50,000 - Hungary
Allocated: CHF 50,000 - Ukraine
Allocated: CHF 50,000 - Romania
Date: 9 March, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Appeal 13/01 launched 9 March, 2001. Situation Report no. 1 & 2 respectively issued 2 April and 10 May, 2001.
PALESTINE - HEALTH
The Palestine Red Crescent Society is mandated by the Palestinian Authorities for Emergency Medical Services in the entire Palestine (Autonomous and Occupied Territories). The Palestinian Red Crescent is carrying out medical relief assistance through its PRCS Primary Health Care and Secondary Health Care programmes. Since the Intifada started, the PRCS has experienced considerable problems traveling around the country in order to provide health services to it’s population. CHF 170,000 was allocated from the Federation’s DREF to support the PRCS health programme.
Allocated: CHF 170,000
Date: 19 March, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Appeal 15/01 launched on 3 May, 2001.
FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA - EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Given the prevailing uncertainty in Macedonia, the Federation has released CHF 15,000 to increase the capacity of Macedonia in providing relief assistance to the affected population. To date the Macedonian Red Cross Society has registered 11,000 internally displaced and with support from the International Red Cross Movement, the National Society is distributing food, hygiene and baby parcels, mattresses and blankets.
Allocated: CHF 15,000
Date: 20 March, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: No.
Outstanding needs and Contributions
The attached table provides a detailed account of the DREF. The Federation has embarked on an initiative to increase the use of and support to the DREF, and to ensure a reasonably effective approach to new emergencies further funding is urgently required.
For further details please contact: Andrée Houle, Phone : 41 22 730 4316; Fax: 41 22 733 03 95; email: houle@ifrc.org
All International Federation Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
For further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org.
Jean Ayoub
Director
Disaster Management and Coordination Division
Peter Rees-Gildea
Head a.i.
Relationship Management Department
The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund
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The Reserve Fund for Relief Operations of The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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DREF STATUS |
CHF
|
||||
Opening balance 2000 |
01/01/01
|
3,475,825
|
|||
Income (contributions + refund) |
1,196,107
|
||||
Allocations granted |
(1,496,450)
|
||||
Outstanding pledges / Provisions |
168,000
|
||||
Net reserve available as at |
31/03/2001
|
3,343,482
|
|||
List of grants made in 2001 | |||||
Location
|
Disaster type
|
EA N°
|
Date
|
Amount
|
Refund
|
China | Inner Mongolia blizzards |
AP03/2001
|
10.01.2001
|
100,000
|
|
El Salvador | Earthquake |
AP02/2001
|
14.01.2001
|
161,950
|
|
India | Earthquake |
AP04/2001
|
26.01.2001
|
200,000
|
|
Bolivia | Floods |
AP05/2001
|
26.01.2001
|
150,000
|
|
Sudan | Food security |
AP11/2001
|
30.01.2001
|
29,000
|
|
Guinea Conakry | Refugee |
AP01.03.2001
|
15.02.2001
|
150,000
|
|
Kenya | Refugees |
23.02.2001
|
50,000
|
||
Cameroon | Meningitis |
27.02.2001
|
20,500
|
||
Malawi | Floods |
AP09.2001
|
28.02.2001
|
100,000
|
|
Ethiopia | Meningitis |
AP12/2001
|
01.03.2001
|
200,000
|
|
Ukraine | Floods |
AP13/2001
|
09.03.2001
|
50,000
|
|
Romania | Floods |
AP13/2001
|
09.03.2001
|
50,000
|
|
Hungary | Floods |
AP13/2001
|
09.03.2001
|
50,000
|
|
Palestine | Health |
19/03/2001
|
170,000
|
||
FYR Macedonia | Emergency preparedness |
20/03/2001
|
15,000
|
||
Total as at |
31/03/2001
|
1,496,450
|
|||
List of Income - 2001 | |||||
British RC |
144,120
|
||||
Britisg Govt - DFID |
1,000,000
|
||||
Canadian - RC |
32,225
|
||||
Luxemburg RC |
50,000
|
||||
Swedish RC |
22,052
|
||||
Swedish Govt via RC |
198,472
|
||||
Private Donors US |
1,435
|
||||
Sub-total
|
90.83%
|
1,448,304
|
|||
Interest |
0.00%
|
||||
Refund 1997 / 1998 / 1999 / 2000 | |||||
Sub total
|
9.17%
|
146,201
|
|||
Total as at |
100.00%
|
31/03/2001
|
1,594,505
|