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Chad: Floods DREF No. MDRTD003 Operation Update No. 1

Países
Chad
Fuentes
IFRC
Fecha de publicación

GLIDE no. FL-2009-000186-TCD

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: 1 October to 2 November, 2009.

CHF 246,522 (USD 231,432 or EUR 162,656) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the National Society in delivering immediate assistance to some 1,136 families (or 5,680 beneficiaries). Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Summary: On 10 and 11 August, 2009, torrential rains poured down in the area of Bongor, a town located 240 kilometres from the Capital N'Djamena. Up to three deaths were reported, 7,120 persons were affected by the floods and 2,050 houses have been fully or partially damaged. The Red Cross of Chad (RCC) with the support of the International Federation responded quickly to the disaster. Immediately after the flooding, a preliminary assessment was carried out and relief items including plastic sheeting and blankets were distributed to the affected population. Volunteers from the Red Cross of Chad Regional Committee of Bongor were mobilized to provide support in search and rescue.

The situation

The torrential downpour and flooding in Bongor on 10 and 11 August has affected more than 7,120 persons and left 900 of them homeless. There was an excessive amount of stagnant water in the cultivable and inhabited areas. The floods led to the destruction of houses and had a severe impact on the population killing three people. The rains were particularly violent and heavy, causing a major rise in the level of the Logone river water and leading to the destruction of a dam. Two districts located in the northern part of the city have been completely flooded. These floods also caused the destruction of crops and left many areas and roads inaccessible. Regarding water and sanitation infrastructures, the National Society with the support of the International Federation assessed that over 50 percent of the disaster area found their water sources to be in danger of contamination from faeces and other debris due to collapsed sanitation facilities and running floodwaters. The most common sanitation facilities were pit latrines, of which 50 percent collapsed due to the floods. As a result the affected people were living in an unhealthy environment, with the related range of health risks. They also continued living in camping sites and makeshift shelters along the paved roads thereby increasing the risk of car accident. Rambling of venomous reptiles such as snakes and scorpions have been exposing the vulnerable people to further dangerous situations. The Red Cross of Chad with the support of the International Federation procured relief items from the neighboring country of Cameroon and pre positioned them in the affected areas by the end of September. On 1st of October, distribution of relief items to targeted beneficiaries started in the town of Bongor. During a whole week volunteers from the Red of Chad's main office and the regional committee of Bongor with the support of the International Federation logistic teams dispatched non food items to the remotest affected areas and distributed them to the extreme vulnerable. The planned activities related to water, sanitation and hygiene promotion will carried out after the training of the volunteers.