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Dominican Rep.

ACT Appeal Dominican Republic: Flood Assistance - LADR-31

Attachments

Appeal Target: US$ 133,490
Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 93,714
Geneva, 16 December 2003

Dear Colleagues,

The north-west and the north-east of the Dominican Republic was lashed by the heaviest rains for more than 20 years during the last two weeks of November 2003. The rains resulted in extensive flooding which, according to official data, affected 12,000 families (more than 65,000 persons) of which 47,000 were evacuated and 17,000 rescued. Ten persons died as a result of the floods and landslides while 1,250 persons lost their homes. The flooding also totally devastated agriculture in the area.

The Social Services of the Dominican Churches (Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas - SSID) church members have been supporting the affected communities materially and morally. For example the pastors in the provinces of Monte Cristy and Dajabón, has been collecting and distributing food and clothes with the support of members of the churches, schools, businesses and friends. These members have now requested support from the SSID to assist them in their endeavours.

SSID is requesting ACT support to respond to the needs of those families who have not received any support and are in dire need of food, shelter and health services. The SSID will work on the distribution of food, medical assistance, construction and repair of houses. A programme will also be developed for the recovery of agriculture through short cycle crops. The project will assist 30 communities in the north and the north-west of the Dominican Republic - namely Monte Cristy and Dajabón as well as the districts of the Yaque inlet in Santiago. Priority will be given to rural communities and some marginal urban districts.

Project Completion Date: 31 May 2004

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested (US$)

Total Appeal Target(s)
133,490
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.
39,776
Balance Requested from ACT Network
93,714

Please kindly send your contributions to the following ACT bank account:

Account Number - 240-432629.60A (USD)
Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together
UBS AG
8, rue du Rhône
P.O. Box 2600
1211 Geneva 4
SWITZERLAND
Swift address: UBSW CHZH12A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (direct tel. +4122/791.60.38, e-mail address jkg@act-intl.org) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

Thor-Arne Prois
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office

I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER INFORMATION

  • Servicio Social De Iglesias Dominicanas (SSID)

The SSID is an inter-denominational, non-profit development organisation comprising 16 protestant evangelical churches in the Dominican Republic. It was created in 1962 to respond to the most urgent needs of the population after the fall of the dictatorship

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION

The north-west and the north-east of the Dominican Republic was lashed by the heaviest rains for more than 20 years during the last two weeks of November 2003. The rains resulted in extensive flooding which, according to official data, affected 12,000 families (more than 65,000 persons) of which 47,000 were evacuated and 17,000 rescued. Ten persons died as a result of the floods and landslides while 1,250 persons lost their homes. The flooding also totally devastated agriculture in the area.

The flood waters of the Yaque River covered 18,700 hectares, from Santiago to Monte Cristy while its tributaries - Anima, Mao, Guayubín, Gurabo and Cana rivers flooded an area of 8,000 Km2 in the provinces of Mao, Monte Cristy and Dajabón.

In Santiago the greatest damages were suffered by those families living on the river banks to the north of the Yaque River inlet who lost their houses in the rush of flood waters and landslides. Agriculture in the form of crops, grains and vegetables, the only means of livelihood for the affected population, was totally destroyed.

The National Emergency Committee (NEC) , a disaster response network comprising the Civil Defence, the Red Cross and Armed Forces, firemen and rescue units of different regions, responded immediately. Public ministries were also put on alert.

A concerted effort has been made to handle the situation and try to restore some normality. The Dominican Government, through the municipal and provincial authorities and the institutions of health and other public ministries in co-ordination with the NEC, has been offering support to those families who have been evacuated due to their houses being destroyed or flooded. However, this support does not reach all the victims and does not cover even minimum needs.

The President has expressed willingness to continue helping the victims. However, as the country is in the middle of a electoral campaign and is going through an economic and social crisis it is very doubtful that the government will be able to cover all the needs. Therefore, the future situation of the affected population is worrying. The flood will have a long-term impact due to the destruction of crops - the basic food and main means of livelihood of the population. There is also a risk of waterborne related epidemics due to lack of potable water and contamination of water sources by dead animals and other debris.

The SSID church members have been supporting the affected communities materially and morally. For example the pastors in the provinces of Monte Cristy and Dajabón, has been collecting and distributing food and clothes with the support of members of the churches, schools, businesses and friends. These members have now requested support from the SSID to assist them in their endeavours.

The SSID will work on the distribution of food, medical assistance, construction and repair of houses. A programme will also be developed for the recovery of agriculture through short cycle crops.

SSID is requesting ACT support to respond to the needs of those families who have not received any support and are in dire need of food, shelter and health services.

The project will assist 30 communities in the north and the north-west of the Dominican Republic - namely Monte Cristy and Dajabón as well as the districts of the Yaque inlet in Santiago. Priority will be given to rural communities and some marginal urban districts.

III. GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Goal

To provide humanitarian assistance and help with the rehabilitation of the victims of the floods in the north-west Dominican Republic

Objectives

To provide food, medicines and basic materials such as quilts, mattresses and health kits

To support the construction/reconstruction of the affected houses

To support the rehabilitation of food production

IV. TARGETED BENEFICIARIES

The beneficiaries of the project are the poorest and most vulnerable families affected by the floods, who do not have the resources to satisfy their basic needs. These families have lost their homes either totally or partially along with all their possessions as well as their means of livelihood.

1,178 families, approximately 5,000 people, will be assisted in 30 communities in the north and north-west of the Dominican Republic

Selection Criteria

Families of limited resources

Families who have not received support for the construction or reconstruction of their houses from another institution.

People who have had health problems as a result of the flooding.

People who have suffered great losses to their agriculture.

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