Period covered by this update: Update till the 30 May 2010
Summary: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) extension was granted on 7 October 2009 for CHF 359,058 to the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society to reach 300,000 people in 13 out of 20 provinces. Initially, CHF 43,878 (EUR 28,923 or USD 41,339) was allocated from DREF to support the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society (PNGRCS) in delivering immediate assistance to some 5,000 beneficiaries on 7 September 2009 in response to the outbreak.
PNGRCS met the needs of people affected by extending the existing DREF and implemented a strategy that included hygiene information dissemination and community awareness to minimize or contain the spread of cholera, dysentery and influenza over the three month timeframe. The increased scope and budget for this operation, enabled the targeted population of approximately 300,000 people to be reached directly, and a further 2.4 million people indirectly. The original budget for the operation was increased to CHF 359,058 (EUR 237,112 or USD 348,498). This operation was expected to be implemented in three months, i.e. by 7 January 2010, with a final report due by April 2010. A no cost extension was however requested and approved and as a consequence this operation was completed by 15 May 2010.
The implementation of activities for the operation was successfully concluded by May. However, there has been some delay in obtaining necessary financial acquittals from PNGRCS to enable the publication of a final financial report. The total reported expenditure to date is CHF 295,251 with a further CHF 4,599 booked in November. This includes a working advance with PNGRCS of CHF 45,519 to be returned to DREF. A further amount of CHF 63,807, currently held by IFRC will also be returned. Pending the completion of this process this final report is accompanied by an interim final financial report.