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 220,000 (USD 209,523 or EUR 135,218) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Chilean Red Cross in delivering immediate assistance to some 4,000 people beneficiaries. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
Summary: From 19 May to 27 May, the Chilean government declared a yellow alert between the regions of Valparaiso and Los Lagos. The Emergency Operative Committees have been activated since the beginning of the emergency and approximately 8,000 families have been affected by the floods. This DREF operation will be focused on the delivery of basic relief items and psychosocial support to 800 families.
This operation is expected to be implemented over two months, and will therefore be completed by 6 August, 2008; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 6 November, 2008).
The situation
A yellow alert was declared for all the regions between Valparaiso and Los Lagos during 19 to 27 May, 2008. The Port of Quintero has been closed to all types of vessels and the ports of Valparaiso, San Antonio, Talcahuano, San Vicente Lirquen, Coronel, Lebu amongst others are closed to smaller vessels. Heavy rain and flooding have killed five people and forced around 12,000 people to leave their homes after a river overflowed its banks.
The most affected communities are Molina and Lincantén in the region of Maule about 125 miles (200 km) south of the capital, Santiago. The community of Molina has 500 affected families due to the overflowing of the Lontué river, along with another 1,500 families from Licantén. The city hospital has also been damaged by the mud and flood water. The Chilean government has mobilized cleaning equipment to the affected zones and local firemen have been cleaning the streets and flooded houses. The water pipelines have collapsed but they are expected to be functioning again once cleaning activities are completed.
On 3 June 2008 the National Emergency Office from the Ministry of the Interior (Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Ministerio del Interior, ONEMI) established a Preventive Early Alert for the entire area between the regions of Ohiggins and Bio Bio due to the constant rain. ONEMI has delivered a week's worth of food parcels and is planning to deliver additional food assistance for another week.