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. 3; Period covered: 4 February 2007 to 22 May 2007; Appeal target: Revised Appeal target: CHF 418,500 (USD 342,444 or EUR 261,125) Appeal coverage: 95.3%; Outstanding needs: CHF 15,750 (USD 12,748 or EUR 9,703)
Appeal history:
- Launched on 4 December 2006 for CHF 624,500 (USD 522,799 or EUR 392,633) for 4 months to assist 17,500 beneficiaries (3,500 beneficiary families).
- Appeal and corresponding budget revised on 21 December 2006 seeking CHF 418,500 (USD 342,444 or EUR 261,125) to assist 11,845 beneficiaries (2,369 beneficiary families) for 4 months;
- Final report is therefore due on 4 July 2007
- Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 80,000 (USD 64,000 or EUR 50,315).
Operational Summary:
At the end of November 2006, Grande-Anse, Nippes as well as the Southern, Western and North-Western regions of Haiti experienced severe flooding affecting some 4,040 families, destroying at least 317 homes and damaging a further 617. The Haitian National Red Cross Society (HNRCS), supported by the Federation, carried out response activities, focusing on the distribution of essential non-food relief goods and implementation of water and sanitation activities. To date, the 2,369 target beneficiaries received family kits, mosquito nets, blankets, jerry cans, buckets, mattresses and soap which are helping them to resume normal patterns of living. In addition, the HNRCS supplied blankets, mosquito nets and cleaning products to Jérémie Hospital which was damaged by the floods. The response operation focused also on water and sanitation activities in 39 of the worst-affected neighbourhoods in the North West and Grande Anse Departments. The Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) mobilized a Regional Intervention Team (RIT) member specialized in water and sanitation to work with the HNRCS teams in the field. Water and sanitation activities have included mainly cleaning and awareness-raising amongst the population. The HNRCS/Federation worked closely with the ICRC, Partner National Societies (PNS), the Civil Protection Department and United Nations agencies, in particular the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), international NGOs as well as local organizations.
The International Federation undertakes activities that are aligned with its 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 Haiti: Dr. Michaele Amédée Gédéon, President, Haitian National Red Cross Society; e-mail: drgedeonm@yahoo.com; phone (509) 222 55 54; Dr. Guiteau Jean-Pierre, Executive Officer, Haitian National Red Cross Society; e-mail guiteau2001@yahoo.com
In Haiti, Jean-Pierre Givel, Head of Delegation; e-mail JP.Givel@ifrc.org; phone (509) 510 26 28; Fax (509) 221 86 33
In Panama: Darío Alvarez, Disaster Management Delegate, e-mail Dario.Alvarez@ifrc.org; phone (507) 316 1001; Fax (507) 316 1082
In Geneva: Luis Luna, Regional Officer, Americas Department, e-mail Luis.Luna@ifrc.org; phone (41 22) 730 42 74; Fax (41 22) 733 03 95.
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
For longer-term programmes in this or other countries or regions, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for national society profiles, please also access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org