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Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Floods Emergency Appeal no. MDRET003 Operations Update no. 6 (Appeal extension)

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The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 185 countries.

In Brief

Operations Update no. 6; Period covered: 30 November 2006 to 10 April 2007; Appeal target: CHF 3.7 million (USD 3 million or EUR 2.3 million). Appeal coverage: 62.6%; Outstanding needs: CHF 1,389,592 (USD 1,148,423 or EUR 847,312).

Appeal history:

- Preliminary Emergency Appeal was launched on 18 August 2006 for CHF 1,112,299 (USD 902,000 or EUR 707,000) to assist 9,000 beneficiaries for six months.

- Operations Update no. 1 issued on 23 August 2006.

- Operations Update no. 2, issued on 26 August 2006, focused on South Gondar and North Gondar zones.

- Revised Emergency Appeal was launched on 6 September 2006 for CHF 5,212,634 (USD 4.2 million or EUR 3.2 million) to assist some 25,000 people for nine months.

- Operations Update no. 3, issued on 18 September 2006, increased the number of targeted beneficiaries to 45,000 (9,000 families).

- Operations Update no. 4, issued on 29 September 2006, focused on Acute Watery Diarrhoea and Cholera.

- Operations Update no. 5, issued on 29 November 2006, reduced by the Appeal budget from CHF 5.2 million (USD 4.2 million or EUR 3.2 million) to CHF 3.7 million (USD 3 m or EUR 2.3 m).

- This Operations Update extends the Appeal timeframe for two months (until 30 September 2007).

- Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 294,000 (USD 238,443 or EUR 186,904).

Operational Summary:

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) has played a vital role in responding to the devastating floods that wrecked havoc across Ethiopia since June 2006. Red Cross volunteers have been working round the clock to bring life-saving aid to thousands of people affected by the disaster. Those trapped by the floodwaters were evacuated to safer grounds and were provided with psycho-social support, food, water and relief items. Measures were also taken to reduce the vulnerability of the affected communities to health epidemics. The Red Cross/Red Crescent action has kept the destitute alive.

Most of the floodwaters have either largely dried up or receded and people have returned to their homes and started rebuilding. The priority now is to assist the vulnerable segments of the population, whose coping capacities have been exhausted by the recent climatic shocks, to regain control over their lives. Efforts are being made to ensure that families have a sustained access to safe water; new wells are being constructed in the areas where water sources were washed away by the heavy rains. Farmers have been supported with seeds and agricultural tools to help them revive their livelihoods, to become more self-sufficient and to minimize their dependence on food assistance. Poor sanitary conditions, lack of access to water, inadequate practices and lack of awareness, coupled with an intolerably hot climate encourage the spread of communicable diseases. Thus, promotion of better hygiene practices and use of latrines has been another priority. The ERCS efforts have improved living conditions of thousands of people. The commitment of Red Cross volunteers has been admirable. However, there have been setbacks; the prolonged absence of a Federation representative in Addis Ababa created a gap in coordination within the Movement - which delayed the upstart of some of the activities planned for the recovery phase. The coordination role is useful to adequately support the National Society in its work. On 27 February 2007, a delegate arrived in Ethiopia to serve as an acting representative until the recruitment of the Federation head of sub-regional office is finalized. In dialogue with the National Society, a plan has been developed to put the operation back on track. The ERCS has critically reviewed its achievements to date and identified the needs that remain to be addressed; both are highlighted in this report.

The Federation and the Ethiopian Red Cross Society are committed to engage all available financial, material and human resources in order to meet the set objectives (to assist the targeted communities to recover their lives). It has been acknowledged, however, that the National Society will need additional time to implement all planned activities and develop a viable exit strategy to strengthen sustainability of its work in the flood-affected areas. Consequently, it was agreed to extend the appeal timeframe for two months so as to close on 30 September 2007. At the end of the operation, a joint ERCS and Federation team will facilitate an end-review to capture and reflect on lessons learned. The team will trace actions, decisions and consultations undertaken within the operation and concentrate on operational as well as strategic issues related to coordination between Movement partners.

Donor response to the appeal has been good and the Federation, on behalf of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, takes this opportunity to thank its partners for their valued contributions. Gaps, however, remain (CHF 1.4 million or USD 1.1 million/EUR 847,312) and the Federation renews its appeal to the international community to make available additional resources to support the ERCS in its task.

This operation is aligned with the International Federation's Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Global Agenda Goals:

- Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.

- Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.

- Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.

- Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Ethiopia: Fasika Kabede, Secretary General, Ethiopian Red Cross Society, Addis Ababa, email: ercs.sg@ethionet.et; telephone +251.11.515.38.53; fax +251.11.551.26.43.

In Ethiopia: Vincent Toutain, Acting head of the Horn of Africa sub-regional office (Regional emergency operations coordinator for Eastern Africa), Addis Ababa; email: vincent.toutain@ifrc.org; telephone: +251.011.551.43.17; fax +251.011.551.28.88.

In Kenya: Per Jensnäs, Federation Head of Eastern Africa Regional Delegation, Nairobi; email: per.jensnaes@ifrc.org; telephone +254.20.283.51.24; fax +254.20.271.84.15 or Youcef Ait-Chellouche, Acting Disaster Management Coordinator, Eastern Africa Regional Delegation, Nairobi; email: youcef.aitchellouche@ifrc.org; telephone +254.20.283.52.11; fax +254.20.271.27.77

In Geneva: Amna Al Ahmar, Federation Regional Officer for East Africa, Africa Department; email: amna.alahmar@ifrc.org; telephone +41.22.730.4427 ; fax +41.22.733.03.95

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the National Society profile, please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org