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Ukraine: Storm DREF Operation No. MDRUA002 Final Report

Countries
Ukraine
Sources
IFRC
Publication date

The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.

Period covered by this Final Report: 3 August - 2 November 2007

Summary:

CHF 80,000 (USD 65,041 or EUR 48,280) was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 3 August 2007 to support the Red Cross Society of Ukraine in delivering immediate assistance to some 1,460 affected families and to replenish disaster preparedness stocks.

This operation supported the Ukrainian Red Cross in providing immediate relief to the affected population in the north-western part of the country where houses were destroyed and families lost their homes and possessions as a result of a massive storm on 22-24 July 2007. Almost 5,000 affected people received relief items and cash assistance to improve their living conditions and help them repair the damage done to their properties. This operation was implemented over three months and completed by 30 October 2007.

The situation

A strong storm with gusts of wind ranging from 15 to 20 meters per second and torrential rains hit 14 regions of Ukraine, or 56 per cent of the state territory, from 22 to 24 July 2007. The assessment carried out by the governmental Emergency Committee1 and the Ukrainian Red Cross's disaster response team (DRT) identified Volyn region in the north-west of the country as being the most affected by the disaster. In its seven districts 1,827 houses and households in 176 settlements were severely damaged (181 houses were totally destroyed). Food stores and infrastructure, such as telephone and electric lines were cut. Also, 295 hectares of forest were uprooted and a further 4,500 hectares were partially damaged. Agricultural areas suffered heavy damage with 9,200 hectares of crops hit by the storm, out of which 3,800 hectares were lost.

Seventeen people were injured, five of them hospitalized, by flying debris such as uprooted trees or parts of roofs. Totally, in the Volyn region 6,268 people including 156 elderly, 232 multichild families and 1,183 low-income families were directly affected by the disaster. The overall damage to the region is estimated at 2.5-5 million Swiss francs.

Rescue teams from the Ministry of Emergency and local authorities restored electricity links, cleared the roads and renovated the damaged public buildings, as well as rebuilt the houses entirely destroyed by the storm. Two months after the storm, all families were able to return to their houses. In addition, the government of Ukraine paid compensation to each affected family, depending on the extent of the damage sustained. Even though building materials (sand, cement and roof slate) were provided by the government in order to restore the exterior of the damaged houses, all interior repairs were left to the families themselves.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Ukraine: Alla Khabarova, Ukrainian Red Cross, Executive Director, phone: + 380 44 235 0334, email: international@redcross.org.ua
In Ukraine: Joe Lowry, Representative for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, phone: +380 44 278 6110, email: joe.lowry@ifrc.org
In Russia: Zlatko Kovac, Federation Regional Representation in Moscow, Acting Regional Representative, Phone

  • 7495 126 15 66, email: zlatko.kovac@ifrc.org
    In the Europe Zone Office: Leon Prop, Deputy Head, Budapest, phone: +361 248 33 00, fax: +361 248 33 22, email: leon.prop@ifrc.org
    In Geneva: Linda A. Stops, Operations Coordinator, phone: +41 22 730 4300, fax: +41 22 733 0395, email: linda.stops@ifrc.org