The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) 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 emergency response. 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.
Following the earthquake in the eastern region of Nepal on 18 September, a total of CHF 436,179 has been allocated from the IFRC’s DREF to support Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) to conduct rapid assessments and deliver immediate assistance to some 3,500 families in 12 affected districts, including support for volunteer mobilization and transport costs to enable relief teams and goods to reach the affected people in very remote areas.
The operation has been extended to 31 March 2012 and the final report will be available by 30 June 2012.
The Belgian Red Cross and government, the Netherlands Red Cross and government, the Canadian government and the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) have replenished the DREF for this allocation.
The major donors and partners of DREF include the Australian government, the American government, the Belgian government, the Austrian Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross and government, Danish Red Cross and government, ECHO, the Irish and the Italian governments, the Japanese Red Cross Society, the Luxembourg government, the Monaco Red Cross and government, the Netherlands Red Cross and government, the Norwegian Red Cross and government, the Spanish Government, the Swedish Red Cross and government, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the Medtronic and Z Zurich Foundations, and other corporate and private donors. The IFRC, on behalf of the national society, would like to extend thanks to all for their generous contributions. Details of the contributions to the DREF can be found on www.ifrc.org/dref.