This Emergency Appeal seeks a total of some 528,860 Swiss francs with an initial loan of CHF 67,760 from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to provide immediate support to the National Society and allow for the deployment of IFRC personnel on a preliminary basis to support the Chilean Red Cross (ChRC) deliver assistance and support 2,000 people (400 families) for 12 months, with a focus on the following sectors: health (including psychosocial support PSS); water, sanitation and hygiene promotion; shelter and settlements (including household items); National Society capacity building; disaster preparedness and risk reduction; and cash transfer programme (CTP). The planned response reflects the current situation and information available at this time of the evolving operation. As the situation evolves and further assessments are completed by local authorities and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the plan and appeal may be revised with the possibility of scaling up and CTP considerations.
The disaster and the Red Cross Red Crescent response to date
15 January 2017: Forest fires break out in the Metropolitan and Maule regions; despite the efforts of firefighters, fire brigades and volunteers, they are unable to halt the fires’ progress.
21 January 2017: The government of Chile declares a Constitutional State of Exception and State of Disaster simultaneously for the provinces of Colchagua and Cardenal Caro in the O’Higgins region and for Maule and BioBio region; a Constitutional State of Exception is also maintained in commune of Valparaíso in the region of Valparaíso
28 January 2017: The fires spread to the regions of Coquimbo and Araucanía; the fire has destroyed 396,027 hectares of agricultural crops and forest. All of the efforts have been directed toward containing the fires in the affected areas close to population centres and their mitigation and extinguishment. 3 February 2017: IFRC Surge Capacity deployed to Chile – general Regional Intervention Team (RIT) member
10 February 2017: The IFRC issues an Emergency Appeal for 528,860 Swiss francs for 2,000 people for 12 months