Glide No. VO-2008-000220-COL
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 150,000 (USD 123,729 or EUR 97,634) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the National Society in delivering immediate assistance to some 3,000 beneficiaries (600 families). Unearmarked funds to reimburse DREF are encouraged.
Summary: Since April 2008, the Nevado del Huila volcano located between the departments of Cauca, Huila and Tolima, has been sporadically causing tremors and releasing gas and ashes. On 20th November the volcano erupted, unleashing mud flows along the Paez river and affecting more than 8,000 people.
Thousands of people were evacuated thanks to the early warning system developed by the Colombian Red Cross Society (CRCS) with support by French Red Cross and DiPECHO.
Through this DREF support, the Colombian Red Cross Society will be providing food and non-food assistance, primary health care and water and sanitation to 3,000 of the most affected people.
This operation is expected to be implemented over three months, and will therefore be completed by 3 March, 2009; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 3 June, 2009).
The situation
On 20 November 2008 the Nevado del Huila volcano erupted causing three avalanches into the Paez river. Thanks to the early warning system developed by the Colombian Red Cross in close collaboration with the authorities, with technical assistance by the French Red Cross within the framework of the DiPECHO V project, 3,800 people were evacuated from the municipalities of Paez Belalcázar and Inza in the department of Cauca and Tesalia, Nataga, Paicol and La Plata in the department of Huila; thus saving many lives in the short period of time before the landslide reached the communities and villages (only six persons died, seven
are injured and other seven are missing). According to the national authorities, a similar event in 1994 had resulted in 1,200 dead and some 500 missing persons.
The three avalanches that went into the Paez river affected seven vehicular bridges, 14 pedestrian bridges, destroyed 23 homes. Also, 200 families whose houses were located in high risk areas took refuge in temporary shelters in Belalcázar . 8,864 people were affected by the avalanches and, according to reports provided by the Colombian Red Cross Relief Direction. Basic infrastructure including electric services, water systems and sewer systems has also sustained damages.
The affected people remain isolated due to the destroyed bridges that lead to their communities. All of their personal belongings such as kitchen utensils and beds have been lost or damaged. At the moment, these communities can only be reached by air.
On 21 November, an evaluation team from the National System for Disaster Preparedness and Response (Sistema Nacional de Prevención y Atención de Desastres - SNPAD) was formed to carry out damage and need assessments and determine the most urgent needs. The team was mobilized from the capital city of Bogotá to Popayán. On 22 November the level of alert was lowered to orange, meaning there is a probability of eruption within days or weeks, reason why the SNPAD maintains constant monitoring within the area. SNPAD has been coordinating the distribution of humanitarian aid donated by the community and organizations and will dispatch fuel to the affected areas in order to carry out health, communications and relief activities.
The National Road Institute (Instituto Nacional de Vías, INVIAS) has been working in the rehabilitation of two access roads in order to reach the affected areas currently isolated. The SNPAD Directorate, in coordination with the Colombian Air Force, has programmed the mobilization of personnel and food and non-food items by air. Additionally, the government has mobilized three tons of food items, mattresses and blankets to the affected people.
Coordination and partnerships
The International Federation through its Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) and the Regional Representatione for the Andean Region have been in constant communication with the Colombian Red Cross Society since the onset of the emergency.
The Colombian Red Cross Society (CRCS) and the National System for Disaster Preparedness and Response with support of the DiPECHO project coordinated the opportune evacuation and placement of the evacuated residents. The contingency plan project implemented by DIPECHO, CRCS and the French Red Cross, which contemplates disaster preparedness, early warning systems, institutional strengthening and school emergency plans, will also be considered in the emergency response. This project estimates that by the end of 2008, the communities of Nataga, Paicol, Tesalia, La Plata, Inza and Belalcázar will have increased disaster risk awareness, increased capacity of disaster response and implementation of an early warning system through very high frequency (VHF) radio. Additionally, the lessons learned by the CRCS from the past DREF emergency in April, 2008 involving the Nevado del Huila volcano, helped to save lives during this new emergency operation.
OXFAM has also provided support and will coordinate with the CRCS by carrying out water and sanitation assessments in order to provide safe drinking water to the affected areas.