Attachments
SUMMARY OF THE EARLY ACTION PROTOCOL
The IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) has allocated a total amount of CHF 210,958 for the implementation of anticipatory actions to reduce and mitigate the impact of Volcanic Ash in Comoros. This Early Action Protocol includes an allocation of CHF 114,908 to preposition stock and to undertake annual readiness activities to implement early actions, if the trigger is reached. The early actions to be conducted have been pre-agreed with the National Society and are described in the Early Action Protocol summary [Link to the EAP summary on IFRC’s appeals website].
This report provides a summary of the annual readiness and prepositioning activities carried out during the reporting period, as well as any updates or adjustments made to the initially agreed plan. During this reporting period, the Comoros Red Crescent (CRCo) continued to strengthen its readiness and early action capacity to address volcanic eruption risks related to Mount Karthala on the country, and particularly on Ngazidja Island. Comoros remains highly exposed to multiple hazards: hydrometeorological (cyclones, floods, tsunamis), geophysical (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides), biological (cholera, dengue, chikungunya), and technological (industrial accidents). Among these, volcanic activity at Mount Karthala remains one of the most significant threats, with a high probability of impact on most of the population of Ngazidja.
In response to the recurrent volcanic risk and following the yellow alert issued in 2022 by the Karthala Volcanological Observatory (OVK), the CRCo, in close coordination with the Government, has been implementing a simplified Early Action Protocol (sEAP) to assist approximately 12,000 people exposed to volcanic ash hazards. The intervention aims to mitigate the health, WASH, and livelihood impacts of volcanic eruptions by providing early warning messages, promoting hygiene, and supporting access to safe water.
During the first year (May to December 2024) of implementation, progress focused mainly on strengthening institutional preparedness of the NS. This resulted in:
• The official launch of the project, which enabled the mobilization and alignment of the team and key stakeholders around the objectives, implementation approach, and expected outcomes, thereby laying the foundation for effective collaboration.
• The organization of two training workshops, through which the capacities of 52 CRCo volunteers were strengthened in First Aid, Psychosocial Support (PSS), nutrition and Community-Based Surveillance.
As part of the capacity-building sessions, participants were also briefed on the Forecast-based Financing (FbF) mechanism and the overall objectives of the Early Action Protocol (EAP) for volcanic eruptions. It is important to note that the implementation of the activities experienced significant delays due to concurrent contextual challenges. The validation and launch of the project took place during a resurgence of the cholera outbreak in the country, which required prioritization and temporary reallocation of financial, material and human resources to support national response efforts.
Additionally, the impact of Cyclone Chido in December 2024 further constrained implementation dynamics. Emergency response operations and support to affected communities once again mobilized the CRCo’s teams and resources, slowing the initial momentum of project activities. These simultaneous events resulted in delays to several planned actions.
Throughout the reporting period, coordination with governmental partners (notably DGSC and OVK) and collaboration with technical and Movement partners were reinforced. These partnerships contributed to improved preparedness and better information sharing.