Glide No. DR-2007-000175-MDA
The International Federation's 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 response to emergencies. 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.
Period covered by this update: 4 February-18 April 2008
Summary: CHF 248,198 (USD 230,791 or EUR 154,803) has been allocated from the International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the national society in delivering immediate assistance to some 6,700 families. Un-earmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
Over 200,000 people have been affected by drastically diminished harvests in Moldova. The Moldova Red Cross Society with the support of the International Federation is providing supplementary food assistance to 6,700 vulnerable families in isolated rural farmsteads and villages.
During the reporting period 5,450 food parcels out of the 6,700 have been distributed to beneficiaries from multi-child families, single-headed households and families with disabled members. The distribution is scheduled to be finished by the end of April. However, the National Society has managed to make considerable savings on the cost of the food parcels and on transportation (about 30,000 Swiss francs) that will allow the purchase and distribution of some 1,050 extra parcels with which 900 additional beneficiaries are expected to be covered. Therefore, the Moldova Red Cross is planning to extend the operation for one month in order to manage additional distributions. No modification to the budget is necessary.
The situation
Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, was struck in 2007 by the worst drought in its recent history. The drought hit 80 per cent of the country's territory and decimated farming, which constitutes one-fifth of the value of Moldova's gross domestic product.
The United Nations has launched an assistance programme of 11 million US dollars, with funding provided by the European Commission, Austria, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden to assist 135,000 people. However, the situation in Moldova remains difficult. Since January 2008 the prices of basic food products such as meat, rice and vegetable oil have increased 150 per cent. The prices for electricity and gas have also gone up. The small increase in pensions, about 17 per cent, does not cover the needs of vulnerable people. The winter reserves of the affected people are depleted and much of the livestock was slaughtered for cash. Although the spring harvest- of radishes, cabbages and tomatoes- is already available on the market, prices are too high for vulnerable people to afford.
How we work
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.
The International Federation's activities 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.
Contact information
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
In Moldova Red Cross Society: Larisa Byrka, President, email: redcross@mtc.md, phone: +373 22 72 96 44; Vasile Chernenky,Executive Director, email: redcross@mtc.md, phone: +373 22 72 58 24
In Kiev: Joe Lowry, Representative for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, phone: +38044 278 6110, email: joe.lowry@ifrc.org
In the Europe Zone Office, Budapest, Slobodanka Curic, Disaster Management Coordinator, phone: + 36 1 248 33 05; fax: + 36 1 248 33 22; email: slobodanka.curic@ifrc.org
In Geneva: Linda A. Stops, Operations Coordinator, phone: 41 22 730 4300, fax: 41 22 733 0395,