GLIDE No. EP-2008-000212-BFA
The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.
CHF 66,000 (USD 56,654 or EUR 43,825) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the National Society in delivering immediate assistance to some 8 million beneficiaries. This operation is expected to be implemented over 1 month, and will therefore be completed by end December 2008; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by end March 2009). Un-earmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
Summary: A yellow fever outbreak occurred in the district of Ouahigouya with 2 confirmed cases (the threshold for yellow fever is one confirmed case). The International Coordinating Group (ICG), of which the Federation is a member, has launched an emergency vaccination campaign in the district which will be followed by a preventive campaign in 32 other districts in the country to prevent further spread of the disease.
The Burkinabe Red Cross Society (BRCS) will participate in this campaign with social mobilization and communications dissemination activities. The BRCS has been very active in previous years in epidemic prevention and response (meningitis) and has a large pool of trained supervisors and volunteers. 800 of these trained supervisors and volunteers will be mobilized in the response and preventive campaigns.
The situation
The yellow fever outbreak, located in the district of Ouahigouya, was confirmed with 2 cases. The threshold to declare a yellow fever outbreak is one confirmed case. The ICG, of which the Federation is a member, has approved an emergency vaccination campaign in the concerned district. A preventive vaccination campaign in 32 other districts in the country to prevent the further spread of the disease will follow shortly afterwards and is planned for mid-November.
Coordination and partnerships
Coordination is led by the Government, while the Burkinabe Red Cross Society is actively involved in the coordination committees.
Red Cross and Red Crescent action
The BRCS has been very active in the previous years in epidemic prevention and response (meningitis) and has a large pool of trained supervisors and volunteers. 800 of these trained supervisors and volunteers will be mobilized in the response and preventive campaigns. The Red Cross has carried out all necessary planning steps and is ready to intervene with the DREF support.