Summary: 332,099 Swiss francs have been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Paraguayan Red Cross (PRC) in delivering immediate assistance to some 2,500 families (an estimated 12,500 persons). The operation closed with a total expenditure of 327,863 Swiss francs, with a final balance of 4,236 Swiss francs unspent and returned to the DREF fund.
With severe droughts affecting several departments in Paraguay and causing the loss of crops, particularly for small producers, the National Society worked alongside governmental authorities to assist families. With the support of the DREF, the National Society was able to reach 3,400 families, 900 more than the original target, with one food parcel and one seed kit. These distributions were accompanied by community trainings and technical support provided by an agronomist hired as a consultant. An additional 4,758 families were assisted by the PRC with support from other partners.
The major donors and partners of DREF include the Australian, American and Belgian governments, the Austrian Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross and government, the Danish Red Cross and government, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (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 all donors can be found on http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/responding/disaster-response-system/financialinstruments/ disaster-relief-emergency-fund-dref/