The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (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. DREF is a vital part of the International Federation’s disaster response system and increases the ability of National Societies to respond to disasters.
A total of CHF 69,134 was allocated from IFRC DREF to support the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) to conduct rapid assessment and deliver immediate assistance to 5,000 families across nine districts (Ilam, Taplejung, Sankhuwasava, Panchthar, Dhankuta, Khotang, Terhathum, Bhojpur and Solukhumbu) who were made vulnerable by the extreme cold following the onset of winter after their homes had been severely damaged or destroyed by the earthquake in the eastern Nepal in September 2011.
This includes the distribution of 10,000 blankets, support for volunteer mobilization and transport costs to enable relief teams and goods to reach people affected in very remote areas. The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) country office in Nepal has made an in-kind contribution of 2,000 blankets, meanwhile the remaining procurement of 8,000 blankets will be covered under this DREF.
The major donors and partners of this DREF are the Australian government, the American government, the Belgian government, the Austrian Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross and government, Danish Red Cross and government, the European commission humanitarian aid (ECHO), the Irish government, the Italian government, 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 gratitude to all for their generous contributions. Details of the contributions to this DREF can be found on www.ifrc.org/dref.