Madagascar: Cyclone Gafilo Appeal No. 08/04 Operations Update No. 2

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In Brief

Appeal No. 08/2004; Operations Update no. 02; Period covered: 18 March to 18 May 2004; Appeal coverage: 93.6%.

Appeal history:

Launched on 17 March 2004 for CHF 427,000 (USD 334,211 or EUR 272,606) for three (3) months to assist 25,000 beneficiaries.

Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 50,000.

Outstanding needs: CHF 27,230 (USD 21,540 or EUR 17,730)

Related Emergency or Annual Appeals: Indian Ocean sub-regional programmes Appeal no. 01.09/2004

Operational Summary: The Federation Relief Delegate arrived 10 days after the launch of the Emergency Appeal; the initial contract has been extended two additional months to support the national society with the second round of distribution. A total of 9,827 beneficiaries in Betroka received blankets, jerry cans, tarpaulins and soap during April; a further 1,400 families received relief items in Vangaidran, Voudrozo and Midongy in M ay.

Background

Cyclone Gafilo first hit the northeastern part of Madagascar on 7 March 2004 and returned on 8 March as a tropical storm in the southwest before disappearing over the Indian Ocean on 12 March 2004. The cyclone killed 172 people and injured 879 people. The total number of people reported to have lost their homes was 214,260 while OCHA¹ estimated that 773,000 people were affected.

The succession of two cyclones - Elita and Gafilo - hitting Madagascar greatly increased the pressure on the population which was already facing the effects of a socio-economic crisis in the country: acute famine and insufficient water supply in the south and south-east zones due to silting of rivers, increased insecurity, food insecurity, and environmental and health problems.

Operational developments

A Relief Delegate arrived in Antananarivo on 27 March for a two month mission to assist the national society in the operation. A vessel from Durban carrying relief items was delayed due to mechanical problems; this in turn delayed the commencement of relief distribution. FAO and WFP are planning to distribute seeds shortly.

Red Cross and Red Crescent action - objectives, progress, impact

Emergency relief (food and basic non-food items)

Objective 1: To provide shelter materials for 5,000 floods affected families in the Morombé region.

Progress

A consignment of 5,000 tarpaulins, 10,000 blankets, and 5,000 jerry cans arrived from Durban, South Africa on 11 April 2004for distribution to beneficiaries in Betroka, Vangaidran, Voudrozo and Midongy. A total of 9,827 beneficiaries in Betroka were provided with blankets, jerry cans, tarpaulins and soap in April 2004. Fifty trained volunteers distributed relief items to a further 1,400 families in the three remaining areas in May.

Impact

The relief items have provided the beneficiaries with basic requirements. The tarpaulins and blankets have sheltered the beneficiaries thereby preventing illnesses related to exposure to the element.

Constraints

The shipping vessel carrying relief items was delayed for mechanical reasons. The distribution sites in Betroka, Vangaidran, Voudrozo and Midongy are very isolated with poor road access; damage to the roads by the cyclone further slowed transportation of the items. These factors delayed the commencement of distribution.

Objective 2: To prevent the outbreak of epidemics and water borne diseases among 25,000 of the most affected people in the Morombé region.

Progress

The national society undertook continuous assessments and identification of the most vulnerable populations parallel to the distribution of relief items. A large number of mothers, old people with minors, and female headed households were found to have settled in high risk flood zones. There has also been an increase in mosquitoes following flooding caused by the passage of Gafilo that has exposed the populations especially children and women to risks of malaria attacks. Significant needs for mosquito nets, clothing and cooking sets were also identified

Quotations are currently being sought for the procurement of mosquito nets and kitchen sets. The Swedish Red Cross has offered clothing. The transport of relief items by ship instead of by air has resulted in budget savings; this allows for the possibility of revising the budget to cater for these needs.

Open rivers remain the main source of drinking water in 80% of these localities; however, these rivers pose attendant health risks. Despite efforts to chlorinate drinking water, there is need for health hygiene promotion in the community. There is a total absence of family or public latrines in the villages. Food sold in the open by the roadside is exposed to contamination.

Objective 3: To strengthen the disaster response capacity of Malagasy Red Cross at headquarters, provincial and local levels.

Progress

The Federation Relief Delegate has trained 50 volunteers who are assisting in the distribution of relief items and in conducting assessments. Following the request by Malagasy Red Cross, the mission of the Federation Relief Delegate was extended by two months to support the national society in the second round of distribution and to train staff in stock control, distribution and monitoring techniques.

Constraints

The capacity of the national society to implement relief operations at local level is still very weak.

Federation Coordination

The national society continues to attend coordination meetings with the Comité National de Sécours (National Rescue Committee) and other humanitarian organizations. Close links have been maintained with the PIROI².

Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement -- Principles and initiatives

Communications - Advocacy and Public Information

The national society has specifically requested the support of the Regional Information Delegate in building up the capacities and skills of the Malagasy counterpart. In the first phase, the counterpart will travel with the Federation Relief Delegate to the affected areas and write articles on Malagasy Red Cross and Federation response. Coaching and editing will be done by the Regional Information Delegate. A digital photo camera for the national society information unit will be purchased through the present Appeal. The counterpart attended a regional communications forum at the end of April 2004 in Nairobi. At a later stage the possibility for the Regional Delegate travelling to Madagascar, according to requests formulated by the national society, will be taken into account.

ANNEX 1

Footnotes:

¹ OCHA - (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

² PIROI - Plate-forme d'Intervention Régionale Océan Indien (in French) ; Indian Ocean Regional Intervention Platform (in English)

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Madagascar: Mariette Pindray D'ambelle, President, Malagasy Red Cross Society, Antananarivo; Email crm@dts.mg; Phone 26. 20.22. 21.11; Fax 261.320.775.50.556

In Kenya: Susanna Cunningham, Federation Focal Person, Nairobi; Email ifrcke43@ifrc.org; Phone 254.20.271.42.55; Fax 254.20.271.84.15

In Geneva: Josse Gillijns, Federation Regional Officer for Eastern Africa, Africa Dept.; Email josse.gillijns@ifrc.org; Phone 41.22.730.42.24; 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