Period covered by this Operations Update: January to June 2008
Appeal target (as per Tsunami emergency and recovery revised plan and budget 2004-2010 issued in 31 March 2008): CHF 691.3 million (USD 623.6 million or EUR 431.6 million)
Appeal coverage: 98%
Summary
Indonesia: The International Federation continues its large scale operation in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (Aceh) as it approaches the fourth year commemoration of the earthquake and tsunami which struck in 2004. Operations also continue in Nias Island of North Sumatra province which was hit by an earthquake in March 2005, three months after the devastating tsunami. Several partner national societies have completed their tsunami projects and are exiting/transitioning to support for longer-term development programmes. With this is mind, the International Federation and its members are focusing on exit strategies and processes to manage the risks and sustainability for Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia/PMI) and the communities. The formulation of a proper exit strategy is even more crucial with the closing down of the Agency For Rehabilitation And Reconstruction Of The Region And Community of Aceh and Nias (BRR) early next year.
In the community-based first aid project, the International Federation assists PMIs efforts to change community behaviour in 39 villages located in Nias sub-district. In the districts of Aceh Barat, Aceh Barat Daya, Bireuen, Nagan Raya and Nias, the water and sanitation project provides latrines as well as safe and reliable water supply to beneficiaries located in 172 villages.
As a first step in the initiation of an early warning system, the International Federation supported PMI in the set up of radio communication equipment in 23 PMI branches located across Aceh and Nias Island, as well as the PMI chapters of Aceh and North Sumatra. Equipments installed in Aceh will be upgraded, and the procurement process for the upgrade equipments has started. Additionally, the International Federation has supported PMI's capacity in disaster response through the provision of 20 disaster preparedness containers in 13 branches as well as four disaster preparedness containers in Nias Island.
The International Federation's effort in building PMIs capacity continues, as does the provision of branch buildings for 17 branches. To date, construction of eight branches has been completed, six of which have been officially handed over to PMI. In terms of public information, the International Federation produced publication materials, organised exhibitions, special day celebrations and radio talk show programmes. These communication activities benefited the International Federation, PMI and some partner national societies.
Sri Lanka: The International Federation has to date, completed a series of projects representing its wide ranging operation; constructing new houses, extending and laying new water pipelines, livelihoods support, reconstruction and rehabilitation of health infrastructure, building the Sri Lanka Red Cross and communities' disaster risk management and reduction capacities. Much of this progress is in the southern districts where project implementation has not been affected by the conflict. In the north where fighting continues, almost all of the projects remain suspended.
An increased focus on a beneficiary-centred approach to projects has enabled the Red Cross Red Crescent to provide programmes shaped by beneficiary needs. The Sri Lanka Red Cross is benefiting from increased credibility and a positive image amongst the local population, as well as developing its human resources and structures to manage natural and man-made disasters and health risks
Maldives: Construction works on three islands of the Maldives (Kaafu Guraidhoo, Kaafu Maafushi and Dhaalu Kudahuvadhoo) were completed during 2006/2007 and the houses were handed over to beneficiary families. Consequently, focus in 2008 has been on the four-island waste water collection and disposal system project, and the Raa Dhuvaafaru programme.
The Maldives is one of the few countries in the world without a national society; as such tsunami recovery programmes in the country have been/are being implemented in direct partnership with the government. The programmes established goodwill and better understanding about the humanitarian nature of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement (The Movement) and opened the way to support the formation of a Maldivian National Society. Partly building on this support, in June 2006 Red Cross Red Crescent partners in the Maldives agreed on a common 'tsunami operation in-country strategy 2006-2008', which included long-term goals like supporting the formation of a Maldivian National Society, and the need to build better prepared and more resilient communities. In line with that strategy, the International Federation's tsunami plan of action was revised to include disaster management, organizational development, and humanitarian values programmes; implementation of activities under these programmes began in the same year.
Taking into consideration that tsunami recovery projects would soon be coming to an end, in 2008 the International Federation launched Appeal 2008-2009 for the Maldives. The appeal outlined programmes that were focused on creating an environment for the establishment of a national society in the Maldives and enabling it to start functioning and delivering services. Consequently, the long-term programmes that started as part of tsunami recovery work have been moved to the annual appeal.
It is projected that all International Federation tsunami recovery activities in the Maldives, together with assistance in resettling 4,000 people from temporary shelters on five islands to their new community on Dhuvaafaru, will be completed by the first quarter of 2009. However, work associated with construction warranty follow up, community resettlement support, monitoring, and evaluation (including a house occupancy survey) will remain. Focus from 2009 will be on supporting the nascent Maldivian National Society in establishing its capacities, formulating policies, and implementing core programmes.
The national society formation process has been going on since September 2005, and the necessary groundwork has been laid. Work to ensure that the new society is recognized by the government through proper legislation is ongoing. Please refer to Programme Update no. 1, 2008 for the progress made in this regard as well as in the disaster management, organizational development, and humanitarian values programmes.
Thailand: The International Federation tsunami recovery programme in Thailand ended in December 2007. However, at the request of the Thai Red Cross, three key areas of support are provided multilaterally through the International Federation in 2008/09: organizational development, disaster management and coordination, based on issues identified or experiences gained during the tsunami recovery operation. In light of coordination, the International Federation provides coordination support to participating national societies, particularly American Red Cross and Finnish Red Cross.
The International Federation continues to work closely with the Thai Red Cross bureaux to support the ongoing activities throughout this reporting period.
India: The tsunami recovery programme of the Indian Red Cross Society is being implemented in the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh primarily at the national and state levels, along with a few key partners such as American Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross and Spanish Red Cross. The tsunami programme is progressing for all partners involved, with major expenditures being taken up by the national society. The International Federation's tsunami component involves prepositioning disaster preparedness stock and tents procurement for the National Society. Procurement of non-food items was completed in November 2007, while procurement of tents is ongoing. Altogether 12,000 tents will be procured (10,000 through International Federation secretariat funding and 2,000 through IRCS funding). The contract was signed in June, and delivery is scheduled to start in August 2008.
Somalia: Insecurity within Somalia continued to be the major threat to implementation of programme activities. Several cases of killings and kidnapping of humanitarian aid workers were reported during the period under review. Though Red Cross Red Crescent staff was not directly affected, this situation contributed to limited technical support by International Federation Somalia delegation's staff based in Nairobi, Kenya. It was not helped by the post-election crisis in Kenya - which also limited movement of staff from Nairobi.
Despite the challenging operational environment, the Somali Red Crescent Society continued to carry out activities aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness and response capacity of its branches within the region affected by the 2004 tsunami. In March 2008, the Bossasso branch of the National Society conducted vulnerability and capacity assessment training for 23 volunteers and five staff members. The vulnerability and capacity assessment training was followed by a practical exercise in Qardho and Iskushuban districts.
Furthermore, 24 staff of the Somali Red Crescent Society and four representatives from the National Societies of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan participated in a community-based first aid (CBFA) master facilitators' workshop held in Hargeisa, Somaliland, in April 2008.
A 'CBFA in Action' approach was piloted in Berbera and Galkayo branches, with a total of 90 volunteers undertaking refresher first aid trainings; out of these, 12 were selected to benefit from a CBFA training of trainers workshop planned for the third quarter of 2008. 'CBFA in Action' materials were later translated into the Somali language and are currently being tested, on a pilot basis, in Galkayo and Berbera branches as community-based first aid activities in other target branches are scaled up.
Construction of a volunteers' club (naadiga) in the Berbera branch of the national society was completed during the second quarter of 2008. This building will be a major source of income for the branch; it will host a computer training facility while rent will be obtained from the meeting hall and a shop. Construction of a similar structure for the Garowe branch started during the reporting period.
Seychelles: Seychelles Red Cross has been in the forefront in the development of a national disaster preparedness plan in partnership with the government. Delays in the construction of the national headquarters and the warehouse led to a revision of plans, now finalised with tenders expected to begin in October. The National Society, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, plans to support a blood donor campaign. A pilot project aimed at sensitising school communities to the importance of first aid was carried out. Seychelles Red Cross volunteers were also mobilised to provide ambulance and first aid services for a variety of activities during the reporting period. The National Society also carried out a volunteer recruitment campaign in February-March.
Glossary of terms:
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation): refers to the Secretariat and all member National Societies collectively. The term Red Cross Red Crescent is used interchangeably with International Federation. Note that both these terms are different from "the Movement", which denotes the whole International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in addition to the International Federation secretariat and member national societies.
Secretariat: refers to the coordinating entity which represents the International Federation's members. In the tsunami recovery operation - like in many other operations - the secretariat also performs an operational role. For the purpose of global reporting, the secretariat must report income, expenditure and the programme results of its operations in the field. The figures for income received represent the contributions of many member national societies and other public and private donors to the secretariat's tsunami appeal.
Host National Society: refers to the National Society of the country where the recovery operation is taking place.