The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 185 countries.
In Brief
Period covered by this Final Report: 29 March to 30 July 2005.
History of this Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF)-funded operation:
CHF 25,000 allocated from the Federations DREF on 29 March 2005 to respond to the needs of this operation. Refer to DREF Bulletin for more information. An additional CHF 30,000 was allocated in support of the operation.
DREF Bulletin update no. 1 dated 14 April 2005
This operation was implemented over 4 months and was completed by 30 July 2005.
An Interim final report was issued on 30 September 2005
This operation is aligned with the International Federation's Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".
Global Agenda Goals:
- Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.
- Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.
- Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.
- Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.
Background and Summary
In February 2005, a cholera epidemic was declared in Touba- a large religious district of Senegal (about 200 km from Dakar) with a population of more than one million people. The situation is thought to have been caused by high population migration and shortage of clean water due to continuous power cuts that led to water supply breakdowns.
Over 2,000 cholera cases and eight deaths had been reported in the Touba area. The number of new cases soared as more people gathered in Touba for the pilgrimage of "Grand Magal de Touba". By April 2005, the cholera epidemic had spread nationwide. Between 28 March and 3 April 2005, nearly 3,400 new cases and 54 deaths were recorded in the different health districts in Senegal. Such an explosion of the epidemic was expected after a gathering of about three million pilgrims. Other cases were reported in neighbouring constituencies. As the pilgrims trekked home, the number of new cases doubled in Bambey (560 cases by 2 April 2005), Mbacké and Diourbel. Other affected regions include Dakar and its outskirts, Mbour (with more than 50 reported cases), Kaolack (184 cases and five deaths), Thies, Tivaouane, Saint Louis and Tambacouda.
Operational summary
On 29 March 2005, the Federation allocated CHF 25,000 from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to enable Senegal Red Cross Society to conduct awareness campaigns and concentrate on strengthening the actions of the volunteers who had already been involved in the campaign since October 2004. An additional 30, 000 CHF was allocated in support of the operation.
Analysis of the operation - objectives, achievements and impact
Objective: Contribute to the fight against the propagation of cholera in Touba and the rest of Diourbel region.
Specific Objectives:
Provide practical advice for the prevention of cholera through the promotion of best practices in hygiene.
a. washing of hands with clean water and soap
b. food cleanness
c. water treatment : chlorination
d. environmental hygiene
e. decontamination of health centres receiving patients
2. Disseminate information on cholera (signs and danger).
For details on activities implemented, challenges met and lessons learned, please refer to the Interim Final Report which was issued earlier without a financial report available on the Federation's website at page: http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/05/05ME020ifr.pdf.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
In Senegal: Abdou Siby, President or M. Adama Kamara, Secretary General, Senegalese Red Cross Society, Dakar; Email: crsnational@sentoo.sn; Phone +221.823.39.92; Fax+221.822.53.69
In Senegal: Alasan Senghore, Federation Head of West and Central Africa Regional Delegation, Dakar; Email: alasan.senghore@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.
For longer-term programmes in this or other countries or regions, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for national society profiles, please also access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org