The Federation's mission is to improve
the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It
is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers
are active in over 183 countries.
In Brief
This DREF Bulletin is being issued based on the situation described below reflecting the information available at this time. CHF 160,000 (USD 132,642 or EUR 103,320) was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to respond to the needs in this operation. This operation is expected to be implemented over 3 months, and will be completed in late August 2006; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation by November 2006. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
This operation is aligned with the International Federation's Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".
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 current situation
Although the rainy season has come to an end, rainfall continues in a number of Departments in the Andean region, the Piedemonte plains and on the Caribbean coast. A red alert remains in force between Barrancabermeja in Santander and Calamar in Bolívar as well as along the river Cauca, from Caucasia in Antioquia as far as its junction with the River Meta; warnings related to river levels are also in place in the region of the Piedemonte plains.
Between 1 January and 15 June a total of 67,976 families (325,775 people) have been affected by flooding; 139 people have died, 250 have been wounded and 18 remain missing. A total of 1,527 houses have been destroyed and 24,518 have been damaged throughout 316 municipalities in 28 Departments; the rains have struck 29% of the country to date. Around 60 per cent of those who have been affected are farming families who survive on basic agriculture, fishing and small scale cattle farming and who live in rural areas; other groups are those who live along the riverbanks in flood zones and in semi-rural regions which are difficult to access, as well as people living in an urban environment who are residents of underprivileged areas characterized by vulnerability and poverty. In addition, a number of those affected by the floods are living in urban areas, having built houses without taking into consideration safety standards and urban planning guidance.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
In Colombia: Walter Cotte, National Director of Operations and Relief, Colombian Red Cross Society, Bogotá; email: walter.cotte@cruzrojacolombiana.org Phone (571) 437-6300, fax (571) 473-6301
In Colombia: Javier Barrera, Federation Representative, Bogotá; javier.barrera@ifrc.org, Phone (571) 428-5138, fax (571) 660-7010
In Panama: Stephen McAndrew, Coordinator, 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, Geneva; email olaug.bergseth@ifrc.org, phone (41 22) 730-4535, fax (41 22) 730-0395
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 Federationìs 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 Federationìs website at http://www.ifrc.org
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