Summary:
CHF 185,962 was allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the National Society in delivering immediate assistance to some 59,090 beneficiaries (including 1,000 households who received relief items).
Heavy rains during the month of July 2011 in some parts of Uganda resulted in serious flooding and landslides, causing deaths and damage to property and crops. Bulambuli District was the most affected area, with rains causing massive landslides that resulted in the deaths of 27 people.
Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) established that some 12,000 households were affected in 12 districts in Uganda. In many of these districts, the affected communities were unable to cope with the impact of the disasters and therefore needed assistance from government and other stakeholders. URCS was in a unique position to supplement the efforts that were being coordinated by the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Response through the Office of the Prime Minister.
With support from DREF, Uganda Red Cross sought to support 59,090 beneficiaries (including 1,000 households who will receive relief items). The operation included search and rescue, assessment and data collection, food distribution, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities, psychosocial services and capacity strengthening. Although the main operation was in the Bulambuli and Sironko, URCS expanded to include other areas that were affected by the various disasters. This was possible because of additional financial support from Danish Red Cross (GBP 35,000 pounds), United States Agency for International Development (USAID for 50,000 USD) and Tallow Oil (UGX 132, 000, 0000). In addition, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) gave an in kind contribution comprising non-food items (NFIs) worth UGX 224,510,000 and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) provided GBP 215,000 through the British Red Cross.
The Netherlands Red Cross/Government and the Canadian Red Cross/CIDA contributed funds replenishing almost half of the DREF allocation made for this operation. The major donors and partners of DREF include the Red Cross Societies and governments of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the U.S.A., as well as DG-ECHO, the U.K. 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, thanks all for their generous contributions.