GLIDE No. EP-2008-000245-COD
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 173,430 (USD 147,449 or EUR 110,212) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in building its cholera outbreak management capacities in two provinces, namely Maniema and Katanga, and providing assistance to some 600'000 beneficiaries. Un-earmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
Summary: Although this DREF bulletin describes the situation in four provinces (North and South Kivu, Maniema and Katanga), the proposed operation will focus only on two provinces (Maniema and Katanga). This is because North and South Kivu, due to ongoing conflict, the RCDRC is working with the ICRC as lead agency. Therefore, all cholera response activities in those two provinces will be covered by ICRC and all cholera response activities in those two provinces will not be covered by this DREF operation.
Since early October 2008, high morbidity and mortality rates associated with a cholera epidemic outbreak have been registered in the Maniema, Katanga, North and South Kivu provinces. Ministry of Health (MoH) statistics show that over 25,503 cholera cases had been registered, including 515 deaths in the localities mentioned below. The following are statistics from the MOH.
In Katanga province, over 10,214 cases and 229 deaths have been registered and Red Cross efforts will be concentrated on towns such as Lubumbashi, Likasi, Kolwezi, Bukama and Kasenga localities where the mortality rate is very high. In the last week of November, the Kipushi health zone was noted as one of the most affected, with several cases registered. A Red Cross team was sent to the field to assess the situation in the Kipushi health zone which is also reported to be badly affected.
In Maniema province the focus is on the Kailo, Alunguli, Kindu and Basoko health zones, where according to the Maniema provincial committee of the RCDRC, 189 cases and 11 deaths have been registered over the past weeks. This information has been confirmed by World Health Organisation (WHO).
In North Kivu, where ICRC is working, the health zones of Binza, Bwambizo, Goma, Karisimbi, Kirotche, Masisi, Rutchuru and Walikale are most affected, with nearly 8,826 cases and over 229 deaths registered out of a total population of 1,272,981 inhabitants. The possibility to carry out sensitisation, disinfection, environmental hygiene and water chlorination is more difficult in this region due to the ongoing conflict. The numbers registered are those recorded in the local hospital and do not include those occurring in other health centres or at home. By the same period, well over 5,000 cases have been registered in South Kivu, with the most affected health zones including Minova (which shares boundaries with North Kivu), Nundu, Baraka/Fizi (which is an endemic zone), Kalehe, Ruzizi, Katana,
Kabare, the town of Bukavu, Kadutu and Bagira. 1,229 cases have been registered so far in these localities alone, and there are indications that this number is growing rapidly.
Overall, there is clear concern that the numbers are of a significant level and there is a serious risk of the disease further spreading in the four provinces already affected and also beyond. In which case, the RCDRC, supported by the International Federation, needs to be prepared to respond in those provinces not supported by the ICRC.
This operation is expected to be implemented over two months, and will therefore be completed by 9 February, 2009; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 9 May, 2009).