Period covered by this final report: October 2009 to May 2011
Appeal budget: CHF 2,506,429
Final appeal coverage: 101.5 per cent
Appeal history
• On 30 September 2009, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) allocated CHF 325,134 from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Samoa Red Cross Society’s operation.
• A preliminary emergency appeal was launched on 6 October 2009 seeking CHF 2,888,262 in cash, kind or services to support the Samoa Red Cross Society to assist 15,000 beneficiaries (3,000 families) for 18 months.
• The IFRC launched a revised emergency appeal on 26 October 2009 seeking CHF 2,469,064 to assist 5,000 people for 18 months.
This operation has been redefined from 24 months to 20 months.
Summary
In the 20 months since the earthquake and tsunami hit Samoa in September 2009, the planned objectives as stated in the appeal have been fulfilled. Some of the objectives relating to disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction have not been fully met as the activities are ongoing as part of the National Society’s longer-term plan. A number of objectives relating to institutional capacity building have not been reached because of an internal governance dispute within the Samoa Red Cross Society.
The dispute relates to the legitimacy of the Samoa Red Cross Society’s two governing boards. The matter entered the Samoa Supreme Court and later entered the Samoan Appeal Court. The Appeal Court ruled, in May 2011, that a general meeting of the National Society should be held on 13 August 2011 and should be chaired by a person nominated by the IFRC. The IFRC has decided that the general meeting will be held with the support and assistance of the IFRC under the leadership of an independent chairman, Maiava Iulai Toma, who is also the Samoan ombudsman.
The Samoa Red Cross Society has undertaken longer-term operational and strategic planning in order to make best use of the remaining funds from the appeal, as well as bilateral funding from partner National Societies such as the Australian Red Cross and New Zealand Red Cross. This planning has been guided by a programme review that took place in May this year.
The operation is complete and this narrative is final in terms of activities carried out; a final report with final financials will be published by 31 August 2011.