Attachments
Summary of the main revisions made to the emergency action plan:
Through this Operations Update No. 1, the Venezuelan Red Cross (GRC) aims to inform about a timeframe extension of 2 months, for a total of 6 months (new end date: 30 April 2023), to continue to respond to the effects of floods and to provide humanitarian assistance to the people in the most affected areas without modifying the total DREF budget of CHF 417,818.00.
To guarantee IFRC standards in the response, the relief items (water filters, water purifiers, cleaning kits and kitchen kits) planned for this operation were procured outside the country through the IFRC Americas Regional Logistics Unit (RLU). However, due to logistical constraints and the closure of customs offices for the end of the year, the transit time was delayed, and the items are expected to arrive on 26 February. In addition, the second transfer to the National Society is still pending, which due to challenges for the entry of international transfers may take between 14 to 15 days for the release of the funds.
Five months after the disaster, the Venezuelan Red Cross continues to assist affected families. The distribution of water filters and water purification tablets will contribute to mitigate the risk of disease proliferation, as access to safe water remains a constraint. To date, the authorities in charge of guaranteeing access to water services continue their efforts to ensure the prompt recovery of water collection and distribution systems. Similarly, the family kitchen kits will be a great contribution to the affected families, and it will help to meet their current needs.
As the procurement of Hygiene kits was conducted at the regional level, there has been a saving amount for a total of CHF 7,151.88. In this sense, the Venezuelan Red Cross is requesting a reallocation between budget lines to cover two additional months of the National Society Salaries (Operations Coordinator, Logistic Assistant and Finance and Admin Assistant).
It is important to highlight that other activities of the present DREF are not having any modification, therefore an extension of two additional months is requested to conclude with the planned distributions.
A. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
Description of the disaster
The influence of the remnants of tropical wave No. 41 and the presence of the intertropical convergence zone have produced an accumulation of rains above the records of previous years. National authorities indicated that at least 17 states of the country with a total of 120 municipalities in Venezuela have been affected by the heavy rains. Due to the increase in river levels, INAMEH declared a yellow hydrological alert for seven states (Amazonas, Apure, Bolívar, Zulia, Trujillo, Táchira and Mérida).
Aragua State: On 8 October, following heavy rains, a torrential landslide occurred in Tejerías, seriously affecting ten sectors. On 9 October, national authorities decreed a state of emergency in the locality, deploying Civil Protection personnel and supplies to carry out search, rescue and damage assessment tasks. According to official figures, 54 people were reported dead and eight were missing. Based on the needs assessment carried out by the Venezuelan Red Cross, 765 houses were destroyed or partially damaged, and 1,400 families were affected, in addition to damage to road infrastructure, health services, drinking water supply, infrastructure and electricity service.
Anzoátegui State: 500 families were affected in nine municipalities (Capistrano, Bruzual, Carvajal, McGregor, Aragua and Simon Rodriguez). Most of the families are in rural areas, where power outages have also been reported.
Capital District: Heavy rains produced landslides, flooding of main roads, power outages and damage to homes. Despite no new floodings have been registered, families affected continue experiencing the impacts of the previous ones, as in some cases they lost their households and needs are still present.
Falcón State: 488 families were affected by the overflowing of the Coro river, mainly in the Colina and Miranda municipalities. The Cástulo Mármol Ferrer community, where a Livelihoods and Food Security project is currently being implemented was also affected. Eighty percent of the orchards that have been created were destroyed and 12 houses were affected by flooding.
Sucre State: Due to the heavy rains experienced in 2022, the Manzanares and Cumaná rivers overflowed. According to information provided by the state governor, 11 of the 18 municipalities reported damages, where 860 families were affected, and more than 762 houses reported damages to their infrastructure.