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In Brief
Period covered by this Final Report: 14 July to 14 November 2006.
History of this Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF)-funded operation:
- CHF 130,000 (USD 105,285 or EUR 83,216) was allocated from the Federations DREF on 14 July 2006 to respond to the needs of this operation.
- This operation was implemented over a four month period, and was completed by 14 November 2006.
- The final report was due on 14 February 2007.
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.
Background and Summary
The strong rains and gusty winds that affected 7 of the 13 regions of Chile called for the declaration of a Yellow Alert in five Regions and a Red Alert in two - the VIII and the IX Regions, which were declared "disaster zone" and "agricultural disaster zone", respectively by the nation's President.
While normally during winter the rainfall in the VIII region is around 100 millimetres, the strong frontal system generated more than 654 millimetres of rain within 24 hours. Most of the rain was reported in the VIII region, although rain intensity was also strong in the VII, IX and V regions. A minor intensity was reported in the Metropolitan region. All the Regions were monitored by early warning systems with the support of the Civil Protection in anticipation of needs arising from the rains.
The bad weather caused the death of 22 people, among which a police officer and three firemen. The railway service was interrupted in three regions; sewage systems collapsed in the VII, IX and X regions; septic tanks in rural sectors overflowed and electrical power was shut-down in the urban sectors of the regions VI, VII, VIII and the Metropolitan Region.
The Los Libertadores international road - which joins Argentina and Chile - was closed for more than 48 hours due to snow-coverage and obstructions caused by land slides in the V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and Metropolitan regions. Due to this situation 1,900 people (around 600 families) were isolated in the Alto Bío Bío community in the VIII region and around 11,749 people (around 3,316 families) were isolated in the mountain range and coastal zones of the IX region.
In relation to overflowing of rivers, canals and deltas the following was reported:
- The overflowing of one river affected at least three communities in the VI region,
- Another river that burst it banks affected one community in the VII region.
- The overflowing of three deltas affected 10 populations in three communities of the VIII region
- The overflowing of seven canals affected eight populations in seven communities of the VIII region
- The overflowing of 11 rivers affected 19 populations in 11 communities of VIII the region.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
- In Chile: Miguel Angel Cabrera, National Relief Director, Chilean Red Cross, Santiago, email socorro@cruzroja.cl , phone (562)777-1216, fax (562)737-0270, mobile ( 568)549-8475
- In Peru: Giorgio Ferrario, Head of Lima Regional Delegation; email giorgio.ferrario@ifrc.org, phone (511) 221-8151, fax (511) 441- 3607
- In Panama: Stephen McAndrew, Head, Federation Pan American Disaster Response Unit, Panama, email stephen.mcandrew@ifrc.org, phone (507)316-1001, fax (507)316-1082.
- In Geneva: Olaug Bergseth, Federation Regional Officer, Americas Department, email olaug.bergseth@ifrc.org, phone (41)22-730-4535, fax (41)22-733-0395.
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.
For longer-term programmes in this or other countries or regions, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for national society profiles, please also access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org