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 183 countries.
In Brief
This DREF Bulletin is being issued based on the situation described below reflecting the information available at this time. CHF 100,000 (USD 83,210 or EUR 64,450) was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to respond to the needs in this operation. Relief personnel in the field are currently developing an Emergency Appeal, which is expected to be launched early next week. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
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 current situation
Torrential rains that have been falling in Suriname since the beginning of May have caused flooding in the interior of the country, and approximately 25,000-30,000 square kilometres of the country are currently under water. It is estimated that 25,000 people have been affected by the rising water levels, with the most severe damage concentrated in the south of the country. The southern and eastern regions continue to be affected by flooding and heavy rainfall continues to cause rising flood levels in some districts.
Currently, 157 villages in the remote lowlands, where most families live in thatched-roofed houses, have been affected, and at least three deaths have been reported. Most of the affected areas have no electricity and transport is difficult because of the terrible conditions of roads and airstrips that are a result of the continued rainfall. Although the situation has remained stable thus far, with no reported security issues, it is expected that the situation may worsen if the flooding continues and food and fresh water supplies become limited. Some affected communities have implemented rain catching techniques as a means of obtaining drinking water.
A National Coordination Centre for Disasters (NCCR) has been in established, and includes 4 sub-sections: Operations, Logistics, and International Relations and Press. The NCCR is headed by the Suriname military and the UNDP, and coordination of activities is being implemented with the support of international organizations and the Suriname Red Cross. The NCCR has released an initial Situation Analysis, which will be updated daily and includes the needs of the population, organization of resources, and national and international responses.
The government declared the affected areas, mainly the southern lowlands, a disaster zone on 8 May 2006. The Suriname military has been deployed and is currently in the process of moving people to higher ground. Although it is reported that medical facilities in the affected areas are still operational and radio communication links with the capital have been maintained, the government has called the disaster "unprecedented" and has begun an assessment of the situation to determine a plan of action.
A 'medium intensity' scenario has been identified by the NCCR in order to identify specific threats to affected populations. This scenario estimates that the rains will subside gradually, and it will be possible to implement large scale relief measures after one-week. Currently, identified threats include medical emergencies, such as diarrhoea and malaria, psychosocial support needs, economic consequences, lack of functioning schools, and the destruction of vital transportation systems.
Evacuations have been planned for two badly affected areas, with 300 people identified in the Brokopondo area and 1,200 identified in the Tapahony area. The assessment of relief needs is currently being undertaken, and centres have been assigned for channelling relief items. Currently, the main needs to efficiently carry out a national response to the disaster include: immediate funding for procurement of food, water, sanitation, temporary housing, transport and communications; skilled personnel in the relief centres; and expertise in recovery and rehabilitation planning on a general level.
The Ministry of Health in Suriname held a "Medical Crisis Team" meeting which included personnel from the Ministry of Health and NGOs involved in medical programmes, including the Suriname Red Cross. The meeting included a detailed assessment covering 65 affected villages, and an analysis of the needs of affected communities.
At the insistence of the Red Cross, it was agreed to address water and sanitation issues, and the Suriname Red Cross and the Federation were tasked to head a sub-working group in water and sanitation. Nine (9) flights have been conducted to different affected areas, in order to provide updates on the situation and assist with food and first aid relief. Suriname Red Cross volunteers were present on the flights, along with military and fire service personnel, to provide first aid where required. Five new health clinics have also been established in areas of high elevation where people have been displaced.
Red Cross and Red Crescent action
The Suriname Red Cross (SRC) has participated in the joint government/military assessment and offered its services to the national disaster co-ordination centre, with which they maintain daily contact. The SRC will make its local emergency response reserves available and, together with the Federation, is establishing a plan of action to benefit 20,000 persons (4,000 families). This plan of action will serve as the basis for an international appeal, which expected to be launched on Monday, 15 May. CHF 100,000 has been released from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to begin implementing initial activities.
The director general of the SRC has provided full support to the Federation, and has appointed the National Society's director of disaster preparedness and blood to be the direct counterpart to the Federation's disaster management delegate. At a meeting held in the National Society's headquarters, the Federation proposed intervention in two areas, based on the emergency needs and the capacity of the SRC. These areas include: water and sanitation capacity building with the National Society, community awareness, and intervention for water purification; and emergency relief distributions of family food parcels and hygiene kits.
Currently the SRC has Regional Intervention Team (RITs) members on stand-by, including: two specialized in water and sanitation, two specialized in logistics, two specialized in IT and telecommunications and two general RITS members. The National Society also has relief items available in stock. The SRC has agreed, after consultation with the Federation's Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU), to the deployment of a water and sanitation RITs from the French Red Cross' disaster response body in the region, Platforme d'Intervention Regionale Amerique-Caraibes (PIRAC). The PIRAC team will carry out capacity building activities with SRC volunteers in order to qualify them to perform water and sanitation community awareness activities in the affected communities. Two water and sanitation RIT members from the SRC will be fully integrated into the PIRAC RITs team.
The director general of the Suriname Red Cross has been contacted by the Netherlands Red Cross, who has offered assistance through the Federation, and the Suriname government has indicated that they may request the SRC to receive and control all donated relief items. The director general has agreed to the government's requests and is currently asking for Federation support to ensure an efficient disaster response. The director general has also indicated a possible request for water purification tablets and technical water and sanitation support.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
In Suriname: Glenn Winjgaarde, Director General, Suriname Red Cross, Paramaribo; email surcross@sr.net, phone (597) 498-410, fax (597) 464-780
In Trinidad: Thomas Doyle, Disaster Management Delegate, Pan American Disaster Response Unit, Port of Spain; email thomas.doyle@ifrc.org, phone (868), fax
In Geneva: Luis Luna, Federation Regional Officer, Americas Department, Geneva; phone 41.22.730.4274; fax 41.22.733.03.95; email: luis.luna@ifrc.org
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