ReliefWeb

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 181 countries.
In Brief

This DREF Bulletin is being issued based on the situation described below reflecting the information available at this time. CHF 98,000 was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to respond to the needs in this mission, or to replenish disaster preparedness stocks distributed to the affected population. This mission is expected to be implemented over three months from 10 July 2006, and will be completed by 10 October 2006; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the mission (by 10 January, 2007). Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

This mission 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 pu blic 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

As a result of heavy rains and storms over the past days, 19 districts situated in three western oblasts (Lvivskaya, Ivano-Frankovskaya and Chernovetskaya) and the southern republic of Crimea, are experiencing flooding. During the three days of heaviest rain (30 June - 2 July) the level of rainfall exceeded the three-month average for this season. The 20 settlements of the Crimea and Ivano-Frankovskaya oblasts were hardest hit.

The flooding caused severe damage including:

- nine buildings completely destroyed

- over 300 buildings severely damaged

- 1,200 buildings submerged in water

- severe damage to electrical and telecommunication lines (settlements in four districts lost electrical power and telephone connections)

- small landslides activated

- over 30 dams and 167 bridges damaged

- 700 hectares of farmlands destroyed.

Furthermore, over 20 km of rivers banks were degraded and over 30 km of riverbeds were blocked by mud, stones and trees. The Prut and Dnestr rivers overflowed, groundwater levels critically increased, and 42 wells became covered by mud.

Two women were killed as a result of flash floods, while some 5,000 people were directly affected by flooding- 956 of these are children up to 15 years of age. The total population living in areas severely affected by the disaster is 1,890,000. Estimated cost of damage is CHF 30 million.

Rescue teams and local authorities are now busy clearing up the mess and assessing the damage. A group of over 600 people from Emergency Ministry rescue teams are engaged with the local population in clean up work and the rehabilitation of communication lines.

Red Cross and Red Crescent Action

In the days immediately following the disaster, the Crimea, Ivano-Frankovsk and Chernovets branches of the Ukrainian Red Cross have been responding to the emergency through the distribution of drinking water, food parcels, bed linen, mattresses, pillows, hygiene parcels, clothes and footwear to af fected people and hospitals in six districts. Since the beginning of this relief operation, 538 people have been assisted by the Ukrainian Red Cross. However, these efforts are not sufficient and the level of current needs is much higher.

The National Society has announced national fundraising in order to assist the affected people.

The Ukrainian Red Cross is planning to conduct emergency relief activities in six districts of the Crimea, Ivano- Frankovskaya and Chernovetskaya oblasts for 3,000 of the most affected people.

Objectives

The objective of the emergency response will be as follows:

To assist the most vulnerable people in affected areas:

1. By providing necessary survival conditions for the affected people through the distribution of wool blankets, bed linen, hygiene parcels, disinfectants and water filters.

2. By providing nutritional support through the supply of food parcels for a period of one month (precise needs will be identified during assessment).

The total number of beneficiaries to be assisted by the Ukrainian Red Cross is 3000. The duration of the emergency relief operation is three months.

The emergence response will be coordinated with Ukraine's Ministry of Emergencies and Ministry for Social Development. A key role in programme implementation will be filled by Ukrainian Red Cross HQ and three Red Cross branches.

For information specifically related to this operation please contact:

Ukrainian Red Cross, Ivan Usichenko, President, email: international@redcross.org.ua, phone: +380 44 235 01 57; Alla Khabarova, Executive Director, email: international@redcross.org.ua,, phone: +380 44 235 0334

Delegation for Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine: Miro Modrusan, Acting Head of Delegation; Phone 41 22 730 43 24;Fax 41 22 733 03 95; email:Miro.Modrusan@ifrc.org; Valentina Sosnovaya, Disaster Management Officer, email: valentina.sosnovaya@ifrc.org,, phone: +375 17 221 7237

Geneva Secretariat, Miro Modrusan, Regional Officer, Secretariat. Phone 41 22 730 4 324; Fax 41 22 73 03 95; email miro.modrusan@ifrc.org

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organisations (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

Map: Ukraine: Floods - Situation map

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