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Chile: Floods DREF operation No. MDRCL004 Update No.1

Pays
Chili
Sources
IFRC
Date de publication

Glide No. FL-2008-000069-CHL

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 and 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 update: 9 June to 9 July, 2008.

Summary

CHF 220,000 (USD 209,523 or EUR 135,218) was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 9 June, 2008 to support the Chilean Red Cross in delivering emergency relief assistance to 4,000 beneficiaries.

Due to heavy rains, a yellow alert was issued for seven of Chile's 15 administrative regions by the Ministry of Interior, National Emergency Office (ONEMI) between 19 and 27 May, 2008. In the Maule region, the overflow of the Mataquito and Lontué rivers affected hundreds of families and led the Chilean Red Cross (CRC) to launch a DREFfunded operation for the distribution of emergency relief supplies for 800 families, along with support from PADRU personnel.

A detailed assessment, however, showed that most of the affected population's emergency needs had been met by the government. Therefore, the CRC shifted the focus of its operation towards addressing early recovery needs through the design and implementation of a cash transfer program. The operation is expected to be implemented over three months, and will therefore be completed by 6 September, 2008; a Final Report will be made available two months after the end of the operation (by 6 November, 2008).

The situation

From 19 May to 27 May, the Chilean government declared a yellow alert between the regions of Valparaiso and Los Lagos due to intense rain. In the Maule region, the overflow of the Mataquito River led to the temporary displacement of approximately 1,500 families in Lincanten; in addition, the overflow of the Lontue River in the municipality of Molina led to the displacement of approximately 500 families.

On 3 June 2008 the National Emergency Office from the Ministry of the Interior (Oficina Nacional de Emergencia del Ministerio del Interior - ONEMI) established a Preventive Early Alert for the entire area between the regions of Ohiggins and Bio Bio due to the constant rain.

ONEMI distributed relief supplies through the municipal governments in the first two weeks after the flooding, and mobilized cleaning equipment to the affected zones and local firemen cleaned the streets and many of the flooded houses.

The recession of flood waters within the first few days allowed the displaced families to return to their residences and begin their immediate recovery activities. Due to economic factors and the loss of employment within the agricultural sector that offers work on a seasonal basis that coincided with the onset of winter, a large number of families was unable to replace their lost or damaged goods.