The International Federation's mission
is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of
humanity. The Federation is the world's
largest humanitarian organization, and its millions of volunteers are active
in over 180 countries. All international assistance to support vulnerable
communities seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian
Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, according to the SPHERE
Project.
In brief
This Minor Emergency Update no. 1 is being issued based on the needs described below reflecting the information available at this time. CHF 100,000 (USD 77,700 OR EUR 64,082) Has been allocated from the federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DEFR) to assist some 2,700 beneficiaries for a period of three months. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
The situation
As a result of eight hours of heavy rains that occurred on 7 August, 2005 the heaviest and worst floods in 40 years occurred in Jalingo, the state capital of Taraba (north-east of Nigeria, bordering Cameroon), killing over 100 people and displacing more than 50,000 others. Hundreds of people on the River Jalingo Bridge linking the state of Taraba with other parts of the country were in immediate danger of being swept away when the bridge caved in, and 80 of them were swept away by the powerful currents. Among those feared dead was an assistant commissioner of police who had gone to disperse the crowds from the bridge. The policeman hung on the bridge's rails for over three hours waiting for assistance. Other victims were passengers who were being conveyed across the bridge. 40 bodies had been recovered by 26 August 2005 and five people were rescued.
The rescue operation was severley hampered by the volume and speed of the raging waters. The most affected areas are Mafindi, Nunkai, Magami, Lamurde, Mallam Gabdo and Sabon-gari.
The following statistics summarize the situation:
- 80 houses totally swept off.
- 410 houses extensively destroyed.
- 2,661 families displaced (now in IDP camps).
The internally displaced people (IDP) in the camps are located as follows:
- 1,100 families at Nafindi Primary School.
- 880 families at Lamurde Primary School .
- 621 families at Nunkai Primary School.
The remaining IDP's are currently accommodated by friends, relatives and other community members.
Red Cross action
The Taraba state branch of the Nigerian Red Cross Society1 mobilized 45 emergency and first aid team (EFAT) volunteers to play a lead role in the search and rescue operation, including provision of first aid services and transportation of the injured people to nearby hospitals not affected by the floods. The volunteers actively participated in evacuating the victims and their properties to safer areas. 50 volunteers involved in the operation are registered as IDP's and are maintaining the hygiene, sanitation and security in the camps.
The national society north east zone disaster preparedness and response officer has also been deployed to Taraba State by the national headquarters to coordinate the activities of the national society's volunteers, in collaboration with the branch's secretary and Taraba branch's disaster preparedness coordinator.
Through the British Red Cross's small-scale emergency fund, Nigerian Red Cross Society was able to temporarily support the deployed staff and volunteers for one-week period and carry out a prompt assessment of the flood disaster. Food items and second-hand clothes were also distributed to 200 affected families. The disaster management delegate from the Dakar regional delegation is also in the field assisting the disaster response operation, assessments and coordination with other agencies and institutions.
For information specifically related to this operation please contact:
In Nigeria: Mr. Abiodun Orebiyi, Secretary-General, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Ikoyi-Lagos; Email: nigerianredcross2003@yahoo.com; Phone: +234.1. 269.15.99- ; Fax: +234.1.269.15.99
In Nigeria: Ms. Joan Agba, Regional Administrative Officer, Nigeria Sub-regional Programmes, Ikoyi-Lagos; Email: ifrcng08@ifrc.org; Phone: +234.1. 269.66.82; Fax: +234.1.269.52.29
In Senegal: Alasan Senghore, Federation Head of regional delegation for West and Central Africa, Dakar; Email: ifrcsn21@ifrc.org; Phone: +221.869.36.41; Fax: +221.860.20.02.
In Geneva: Madeleine Lundberg, Federation Regional Officer for West and Central Africa, Africa Dept; Email madeleine.lundberg@ifrc.org; Phone: +41.22.730.43.35 ; Fax: +41.22.733.03.95
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.
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