GLIDE n° FL-2012-000068-DOM
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) 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 emergency response. 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.
148,808 Swiss francs have been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Dominican Red Cross (DRC) in delivering immediate assistance to 2,500 families. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
Summary: On 12 April a series of heavy rains hit the Dominican Republic, especially affecting the provinces of Santiago, Puerto Plata, La Vega, Valverde, Montecristi, Espaillat and Duarte with floods and landslides, and disrupting the production and distribution of safe water.
On 16 April local authorities reported 231 cases which it is suspected may be cholera in the Municipality of Tamboril. The hospital in this municipality is giving priority to diarrheic diseases and vomiting; any other illness reported is referred to the hospital Cabral y Báez in Santiago which is working at full capacity. Most of the cases reported are from the province of Santiago, municipality of Tamboril, as well as San Víctor, Moca, in the Province of Espaillat.
As a result, the Dominican Red Cross (DRC) activated its contingency plan and mobilized National Intervention Team members specialized in health, to coordinate with the prevention, mitigation and response committees in the municipalities affected, carry out assessments and develop a plan of action. Since the cholera outbreaks of 2010 and 2011, the DRC and its partners have worked on preparedness and response programmes that until October 2011 had directly reached some 54,500 people with training and more than 1.9 million people with epidemic control and hygiene promotion messages.
The DRC started immediate response activities on 15 April and expects this operation to be implemented through the next three months, when heavy rains are expected, and it will be completed by July 2012. A final report will be available three months after the end of the operation in October 2012.