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El Salvador: Earthquake Appeal No. 02/2001 Operations Update No. 20

Страны
Сальвадор
Источники
IFRC
Дата публикации

Launched on 14 January 2001 for CHF 1,112,360 for 1 month. Revised on 24 January 2001 for CHF 5,422,147 for 154,000 beneficiaries for 14 months; budget revision to CHF 9,385,698 on 4 June and extension of the operation until 31.12.2002; further extension of the operation to 31.12.2003.
Beneficiaries: 154,000
Operations Update No. 20;
Period covered: 1 October 2002 - 31 January 2003 Last Update: 19 issued 25 November 2002 Next Update 21 expected May 2003

IN BRIEF

Appeal coverage: 112.1%

Related Appeals: 01.47/2003 Pan American Disaster Response Unit; 01.50/2003 Central America

Outstanding needs: None

Summary: Under the Salvadorean Red Cross Society (SRC) health programme, all health posts have now been inaugurated, the most recent inauguration taking place at the Centenario health post in the canton of Buenos Aires, Juayua, in November 2002. The health centre took the name of the Vice President of the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) in recognition of the support provided by the National Society. Statistics to date show that over 3,338 people have received medical assistance through the curative and preventive health brigades which also undertake health promotion activities in the new health posts. In the framework of the campaign for the reduction of HIV/AIDS related stigma, and in commemoration of International AIDS Day, awareness-raising took place in 14 SRC branches with the participation of Red Cross youth. Also on 1 December, with the support of the Federation, a play cum puppet show was staged. The theme of the show was "although you are seropositive, you are still my friend" and was presented in two public squares in San Salvador. Through the play, it is hoped to raise awareness by emphasizing anti-stigma messages. Community initiatives including clean-up campaigns and a nutritional survey took place over the reporting period and were particularly successful given effective links with the Ministry of Health and external partners. The SRC project focusing on drought mitigation has now been finalized. The 200 families which took part in the project benefited from improved harvests in relation to previous years; furthermore, farmers gained increased profits from their harvests, boosting economic activity in the area. Revision of the Salvadorean Red Cross Society national disaster plan has been finalized. In order to monitor and ensure follow up of its implementation, working groups have been formed and a strategy put in place to facilitate the dissemination of the plan. Evaluation of the pilot project in branch development took place, resulting in the placement of two promoters in each branch: one focusing on administration and finance and the other focusing on organizational development.

Operational Developments

Given the long term development goals of the El Salvador earthquake operation, both in terms of the National Society and targeted communities, together with the balance of funding remaining at the end of December 2002, the earthquake operation has been extended until 31 December 2003. A number of projects continue to be implemented and a major focus of the programme is on strengthening the capacities of the National Society, both at headquarters and branch level with a view to ensuring long-term sustainability.

During the reporting period, the Federation continued to support the National Society in the drawing up of a country agreement strategy (CAS) with the involvement of the Participating National Societies. Two drafts of the CAS were reviewed during the reporting period and the CAS is now pending final approval.

The project focusing on drought mitigation has been finalized. The 200 families which took part in the project benefited from improved harvests in relation to previous years; furthermore, farmers gained increased profits from their harvests, boosting economic activity in the area. During the period covered by the report, political campaigns were launched promoting deputies and mayors in the March 2003 elections. In the health sector, the on-going crisis continues as a result of a medical union strike implemented as a protest against the privatization of the Salvadoran Institute of Social Security.

On 20 January 2003, a quake registering 5.7 on the Richter scale, shook most of the country. The quake lasted for 60 seconds and was followed by an after shock measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale according to the National Territorial Service. The epicentre was located 100 kilometres off the coast of Guatemala and the western part of El Salvador was the most affected by the quake, although no injuries or damage were reported. The relief department of the National Society, together with the Salvadoran emergency committee, carried out monitoring of the situation.

Coordination

The Salvadorean Red Cross Society/Federation are successfully ensuring increased coordination with PNS and external partners, particularly in the field of health. An example of coordination between members of the Red Cross Movement is the development of the CAS, approval of which is expected shortly.

Red Cross and Red Crescent action

The National Society continues to be strengthened through the components of the earthquake operation with activities taking place both at headquarters and branch level. The community health office is taking on an increasingly significant role as coordinator and technical monitor of all health interventions among the Federation, PNS and other SRC partners in El Salvador. An evaluation of the structure of the National Society by an external consultant was initiated in February 2003.

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