Tajikistan: Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) Appeal No. 01.72/2001 Programme Update No. 3

This Programme Update is intended for reporting on Annual Appeals.
Appeal Target CHF 10,000,000

Period covered: July - September, 2001.

DREF allocations during this period

TAJIKISTAN & UZBEKISTAN - FACT DEPLOYMENT

On 23 May 2001, the President of Tajikistan appealed to the international community for assistance in urgent food aid for the population affected by a second consecutive year of drought and on 10 July, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan appealed to the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs for international assistance to the population affected by a second consecutive year of drought. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) carried out a crop and food supply assessment in Tajikistan in the period between 21 June and 3 July 2001. While the final report on the mission is awaited, preliminary results confirm the existing food deficit, caused by climatic factors compounded by long-lasting structural problems, mainly caused by poor water-management and dysfunctional irrigation systems. DREF has released 35,000 CHF to support the deployment of two Field Assessment and Co-ordination Teams (FACT) to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan respectively, in the period between 29 July and 7 August. The teams will aim at assessing the level of vulnerability of the affected population and draw up a plan of action for the Federation’s emergency operation. It is expected that a new drought-related emergency appeal may be launched by mid-August.

Allocated: CHF 35,000|
Date: 20 July, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Information Bulletin issued 20 July; Emergency Appeal launched 21 August 2001
Appeal Coverage: 5%

PAKISTAN - FLOODS

With two major cities as well as certain neighbouring areas received the heaviest rainfall in 100 years resulting in 232 deaths and whole villages being swept away in the Mansehra District of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), about 80 kilometres north of Islamabad, the Red Crescent branch provided tents, blankets, cloth material and towels. CHF 50,000 was released from the DREF to support the National Society in providing immediate relief assistant in the same district to the worst affected families. Relief items distributed included tents, blankets and food parcels.

Allocated: CHF 55,500
Date: 25 July, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Information Bulletin issued 25 May, 2001

POLAND - FLOODS

With heavy rain falls causing widespread flooding in the south east regions along the Vistula River and in Gdansk and resulting in 10 deaths and 15,000 evacuated , the Polish Red Cross organized collection centres for the most urgently needed articles (temporary shelter, emergency food and clean water as well as hygiene and first aid kits). Branches organized transport of the relief goods to the affected regions where the distributions took place. The CHF 50,000 released from the DREF supported the Polish Red Cross relief those affected.

Allocated: CHF 50,000
Date: 30 July, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Information Bulletin issued 31 July, 2001; Emergency Appeal 23/2001 launched 9 August 2001
Appeal Coverage: 59%

PHILIPPINES - VOLCANO

With the Mount Mayon Volcano in the central Philippines erupted for the second time in weeks sending tens of thousands of villagers fleeing in panic, Philippine volcanologists raised the alert level. Reports indicated that 40,000 villagers had been forced to flee their homes to 27 evacuation centres housing some 9,773 families. CHF 75,000 was allocated from the DREF to support the operation.

Allocated: CHF 75,000
Date: 2 August, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Information Bulletin issued 26 June and 02 August, 2001; Emergency Appeal 22/2001 launched 09 August 2001
Appeal Coverage: 75%

SUDAN - FLOODS

Heavy rains in Ethiopia caused flooding of the River Nile, causing the displacement of the population in Atbara, Um Benin. Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers provided first aid and relief items to the displaced population. CHF 50,000 was allocated from the Federation’s DREF to start this operation, prior to an Emergency Appeal being launched.

Allocated: CHF 50,000
Date: 7 August, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Information Bulletin issued 08 August, 2001; Emergency Appeal 24/2001 launched 10 August 2001.
Appeal Coverage: 98%

SRI LANKA - DROUGHT

With a lack of the normal rains in the southern tip of Sri Lanka, the crop harvest expectations were described as the worst in 50 years. The Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC) carried out an assessment and identified 10,000 of the most vulnerable families in the four most disaster affected Divisions (Tissamaharamaya, Lumugamvehera, Hambantota and Sooriyavewa). CHF 100,000 was released from the Federation’s DREF to support the SLRC’s efforts to provide food assistance in the form of rice, wheat flour, dal and sugar to the most vulnerable identified.

Allocated: CHF 100,000
Date: 8 August, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Information Bulletin issued August, 2001; Emergency Appeal 25/2001 launched 14 August 2001, Operation Update issued 13 September 2001.
Appeal Coverage: 14.3%

TAJIKISTAN - DROUGHT

Tajikistan is affected by the second consecutive year of drought. A Field Assessment and Co-ordination Team FACT was deployed to Tajikistan (29 July - 7 August) in order to assess the needs and the coping mechanism of the people affected by the ongoing drought. The team recommended the launching of an Emergency Appeal to improve the access of vulnerable groups to food. The operation was designed to assist a selected part of the most vulnerable population in urgent food needs, and also include a focussed health promotion campaign and distribution of clothes to children attending school. CHF 150,000 was allocated from the Federation’s DREF to enable to operation to start immediately.

Allocated: CHF 150,000
Date: 13 August, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Emergency Appeal 26/2001 launched 21 August 2001
Appeal Coverage: 5.2%

CHAD - CHOLERA

A cholera epidemic broke out in Chad 25 June 2001, with N’Djamena and several other towns in the province affected, in particular the localities of Bol (Lake Chad), Massakory, Mao, Moundou and Bongor. By 7 August, the number of registrated cases of cholera had reached 1,500, with 46 confirmed dead. One hundred and fifty Chad Red Cross volunteers were mobilized in the affected zones to teach the population to put bleach in their drinking water and increasing people’s awareness on hygiene and the environment. CHF 50,000 was allocated from the Federation’s DREF to support the operation which includes a cholera treatment camp in Mandelia to care for 200-300 sick persons, environment cleaning campaign and chlorination of wells.

Allocated: CHF 50,000
Date: 17 August, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Information Bulletin 1 and 2 issued respectively 27 July and 15 August, 2001; Emergency Appeal 28/01 launched 31 August 2001; Operation Update issued 27 September 2001
Appeal Coverage: 67%

ECUADOR - VOLCANO

Ecuador’s Tungurahua volcano, located 5,020 meters above sea level in the Andean highlands has been in the process of intermittent eruption since 1999, sending persistant rain of ash, causing destruction of crops and affecting some 20,000 people living nearby. Since October, Tungurahua has been on "yellow alert" indicating that an eruption is imminent. The Government of Ecuador declared a state of emergency on 14 August in seven communities threatened by the volcano. CHF 75,000 was allocated from the Federation’s DREF to assist the Ecuador Red Cross in the delivery of food and medical assistance in the most affected areas.

Allocated: CHF 75,000
Date: 17 August, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Information Bulletin 1 issued 20 August, 2001

COLOMBIA - STORMS

Heavy rains affected northern Columbia, with strong winds which particularly struck the province of Atlántico causing rivers and streams to overflow. Eight poor neighbourhoods in the provincial capital Barranquilla and the municipality of Soledad were affected, with 200 people injured. Approximately 400 houses were completely destroyed and 450 were heavily damaged. CHF 35,000 was released from the Federation’s DREF to support the Colombia Red Cross in the implementation of a relief operation to assist 4,223 persons affected by the storms with relief items such as blankets, personal hygiene kits, kitchen sets and clothes.

Allocated: CHF 35,500
Date: 24 August, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Information Bulletin 1 and 2 issued respectively 7 June and 27 August, 2001

CROATIA - FLOODING

Storms and heavy rainfall caused serious flooding in the area of Slavonija, north east Croatia. An assessment carried out by the Croatia Red Cross revealed that 1,200 people were directly affected by the flooding. CHF 27,000 was released from the Federation’s DREF to support Croatia Red Cross in the purchase and distribution of needed relief items such as used clothes, shoes and blankets as well as disinfectant and chemicals to clean wells.

Allocated: CHF 27,000
Date: 12 September, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Information Bulletin issued 24 September 2001

EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, NICARAGUA - DROUGHT

With many rural areas of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua suffering from the third consecutive year of acute shortage of rainfall resulting in food deficits and subsistence crops to fail, the World Food Programme estimated that some 1.5 million people are currently affected by the drought, of whom 695,000 are facing critical food security problems. CHF 100,000 was allocated from the Federation’s DREF to start food distribution to 9,500 of the most affected families in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Allocated: CHF 100,000
Date: 18 September, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Preliminary Emergency Appeal 31/2001 launched 19 September 2001
Appeal Coverage: 0%

COTE D’IVOIRE - YELLOW FEVER

Yellow fever is An acute infectious disease caused by the yellow fever virus which is transmitted by mosquitoes. The first case of yellow fever outbreak in Cote d’Ivoire was reported in March 2001, resulting in 143 cases reported, with 72 confirmed and 16 deaths from the disease. The epidemic prompted the establishment of a crisis committee on 5 September with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, MSF and the Federation. Pending the launch of an Emergency Appeal, CHF 50,000 was allocated from the Federation’s DREF to the Red Cross operation supporting mass vaccination and social mobilization..

Allocated: CHF 50,000

Date: 18 September, 2001

Status: Ongoing

Report: Emergency Appeal 30/2001 launched 18 September 2001

Appeal Coverage: 101.4%

LESOTHO - STORM

A tornado struck Lesotho and particularly affected the districts of Mohale and Quthing. The government requested assistance from the Lesotho Red Cross to coordinate the relief operation. CHF 25,000 was allocated from the Federation’s DREF to support the Lesotho Red Cross response. The funds were intended for the provision of family tents and tarpaulin to replace damaged houses.

Allocated: CHF 25,000
Date: 20 September, 2001
Status: Ongoing

AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, IRAN, TURKMENISTAN, TAJIKISTAN & UZBEKISTAN -HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

In the aftermath of the 11 September, 2001 tragedy in the US, thousand of Afghans, fearing an expected military response, were anticipated to seek safety, protection, and assistance in neighbouring countries. With the support of the Federation, Nationals Societies in Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan immediately began to reinforced preparedness measures. Pending the preparation and launch of an Emergency Appeal, CHF 600,000 was allocated from the Federation’s DREF to begin the purchase of emergency preparedness stocks and the contingency planning process.

Allocated: CHF 600,000
Date: 21 September, 2001
Status: Ongoing
Report: Preliminary Emergency Appeal 32/2001 launched 21 September 2001; Emergency Appeal 32/2001 launched 03 October 2000

Outstanding needs and Contributions

The attached table provides a detailed account of the DREF. To ensure future support to new emergencies further funding is required.

For more information please contact: Andreé Houle, Disaster Management and Coordination Division, Phone 41 22 730 4316; Fax 41 22 733 0395; email houle@ifrc.org

Jean Ayoub
Director
Disaster Management and Co-ordination

Peter Rees-Gildea
Head a.i.
Relationship Management Department
The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund