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Sudan: Floods DREF Bulletin No. 05ME049 Interim Final Report

Países
Sudán
Fuentes
IFRC
Fecha de publicación

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

Period covered by this Interim Final Report: 16 August 2005 to 15 January 2006.

History of this Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF)-funded operation:

- CHF 200,000 was allocated from the Federations DREF on 16 August 2005 to respond to the needs of this operation and to replenish disaster preparedness stocks distributed to the affected population.

- This operation was expected to be implemented in 5 months, and completed by 15 January 2006.

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 Summary

In July and August 2005, heavy rainfall resulted in flash floods that caused loss of lives and destruction of houses/infrastructure in the Red Sea and River Nile states of Sudan. Up to 3,130 families were affected and needed urgent assistance. Another flooding incident, reported on 31 August 2005, was also accompanied by gale-force winds that ripped off roofs and caused further destruction to property. The rainstorm destroyed most of the houses made of mats, grass or timber sheeting. Local markets were not spared as many were washed away.

In Port Sudan (Red Sea State), five people were killed and 2,950 houses were partially or totally destroyed by the heavy floods. 70 electricity poles collapsed in the city centre, resulting in power disruptions. The Sudanese Red Crescent (2) health centre in Alingaz Quarter was also affected as its roofs and verandas collapsed. Eight warehouses of the World Food Programme (WFP) were totally damaged alongside the food stocks that were stored within. The two-kilometre railway line connecting Port Sudan and Atbara was also severed, resulting in communication difficulties. Several administrative units of central, eastern and southern Port Sudan, as well as Arbaat and Suakin were severely affected by gale-force winds.

On 6 September 2005, another heavy downpour was reported in Atbara, Berber and Eldamar cities of the Sate of River Nile, causing destruction to houses and public utilities. Two people were reportedly killed while 180 people were displaced in the heavy flash floods. Seven schools were partially affected, thereby disrupting normal learning, and a newly constructed hospital crumpled.

Coordination

The SRC worked closely with the government and other stakeholders. The North Darfur branch of the NS, in collaboration with the government and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs), carried out an assessment which revealed that up to 2,093 families had been affected by the flash floods. These results were the basis for the emergency intervention as well as requesting for assistance.

The Sudanese Red Crescent (SRC) received non-food relief items from the United Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC) to assist some 700 families. The Sudanese government's Civil Defence Team assisted in the rescue operation and pumped out water from the flooded zones. The State Government distributed food in three areas, reaching at least 200 families in Port Sudan. The food items included 2 MT of wheat flour, 0.8MT of vegetable oil, 0.8 MT of sugar and 1 MT of rice.

The Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) and World Food Programme (WFP) held an urgent joint meeting, together with NGOs and government partners, to discuss the modalities of conducting a joint rapid assessment in the most-affected areas. The meeting was attended by representatives from the SRC, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Oxfam GB, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Action Contre la Faim (ACF), Accord, SOS, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Agriculture.

On 7 September 2005, six teams were assembled to collect information from the local administrative units and survey community leaders in Port Sudan so as to determine the extent of damages and the immediate needs of the affected population.

WFP mobilized stocks that were pre-positioned in Kassala as a contingency for the potential flooding of River Gash and distributed food to the affected families in the southern, central and eastern sectors of Port Sudan city. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) donated 1,500 plastic sheeting, while MSF worked with MOH and local hospitals in monitoring waterborne diseases.

Analysis of the operation - objectives, achievements and impact

On the request of the Sudanese Red Crescent, the Federation regional delegation in Nairobi facilitated the successful application of a Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) allocation of CHF 200,000 for the SRC to enable it to respond to immediate needs. With the DREF funds, the SRC was able to assist 735 families with shelter, blankets, mats, mosquito nets, insecticides, hygiene kits and water pumps (for drainage) for three months, until November 2005. The national society was also able to replenish stocks used in assisting 956 families affected in Khartoum.

Objective 1: To provide emergency temporary shelter and household items for 735 households affected by floods in North Darfur State.

Achievements

Shelter: 735 affected households were provided with 735 plastic sheets; 735 mats; 1,470 blankets; 1,470 mosquito nets; 735 hygiene kits; and 174 boxes (45 pieces each) of soap.

Health: The Sudanese Red Crescent's volunteers also led awareness campaigns for combating malaria and diarrhoea, targeting affected communities in North Darfur and Khartoum states.

Sanitation: 40 litres of k-otherine and 20 sprayers were purchased and used for spraying the affected areas within and outside the town of El-Fashir, North Darfur state.

Objective 2: To preposition emergency non food items in the Sudanese Red Crescent's disaster response and preparedness stock.

Achievements

Emergency non-food items including 956 plastic sheets; 1,912 mats; 1,912 blankets; 1,912 mosquito nets; 226 boxes (45 pieces each) of soap; 956 hygiene kits; 60 litres of k-otherine and 30 sprayers were procured and prepositioned in the SRC headquarters' warehouse.

Impact

- The general health and well-being of the affected families in their current localities was restored after they received non-food items from the Red Cross.

- The risks of water and vector borne diseases were minimized following awareness campaigns and spraying of stagnant water pools to eliminate potential mosquito breeding spots.

- The Sudanese Red Crescent's capacity to respond to future floods was strengthened.

Special note: This Interim Final Report is being issued without the financial report. The Final Report, comprising of the financial statement and this narrative report, will be issued in due course.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

- In Sudan: Mahmoud Omar Osman, Secretary General, Sudanese Red Crescent, Khartoum; Email: srcs@sudanmail.net; Phone +249.11.78.48.89; Fax +249.11.77.28.77

- In Sudan: Mathew Varghese, Federation Head of Sudan Delegation, Khartoum; Email: mathew.varghese@ifrc.org; Phone +249.11.77.10.33; Fax +249.11.77.04.84

- In Kenya: Anitta Underlin, Head of Regional Delegation, Nairobi; Email: anitta.underlin@ifrc.org; Phone +254.20.283.51.24; Fax +254.20.271.27.77

- In Geneva: Per Allan Olsson, Partnership Coordinator for Sudan, Email: pa.olsson@ifrc.org, Phone +41.22.730.43.92 Fax +41.22.733.03.95

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

Notes:

(2) Sudanese Red Crescent- http://www.ifrc.org/where/country/check.asp?countryid=161