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DR Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo: Cholera outbreak in Katanga Province DREF Operation n° MDRCD008 - Update No. 1

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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.

Period covered by this update: 08 October 2009 to 21 December 2009.

Summary: CHF 58,600 (USD 56,876 or EUR 38,700 was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 08 October, 2009 to support the National Society in delivering assistance to some 163,000 beneficiaries.

The DREF allocation enabled the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (RCDRC) to support the Ministry of Health (MoH) in its efforts of containing the spread of the cholera epidemic that occurred in the city of Kalémie in week 32 and take care of the sick people as well as affected households. The Red Cross volunteers focused in community sensitization on cholera prevention methods, good hygiene and sanitation practices (water treatment through chlorination, cleaning up campaigns and disinfection of affected houses in some health districts).

ECHO contributed CHF 46,880 (80%) to the DREF in replenishment of the allocation made for this operation. The major donors to the DREF are the Irish, Italian, Netherlands and Norwegian governments and ECHO. Details of all donors can be found on :

http://www.ifrc.org/what/disasters/responding/drs/tools/dref/donors.asp