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Floods - DREF operation n° MDRGN004 Update n°1

Países
Guinea
Fuentes
IFRC
Fecha de publicación
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The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) 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 emergency response. 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: 07 September to 30 November, 2011.

Summary: CHF 261,008 was allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on September 2011, to support the National Society in delivering assistance to some 1,500 households.

The Republic of Guinea was struck by a series of floods following heavy rainfalls in August particularly affecting the Prefectures of Labé (city centre), Siguiri, the sub-prefectures of Niandankoro, and Kéniébakoura and the urban districts of Mandiana (Kiniéran), Gaoual, Matam (Heremakonon) and Matoto (Yimbaya market). A damage assessment revealed that a total of 1,920 houses were damaged or destroyed, and 542 latrines and 212 wells flooded and rendered unusable in places. This situation has increased the vulnerability of the disaster-stricken communities. Among the affected locations, the Prefecture of Siguiri reported 12,166 affected persons.

This operation was expected to be implemented over three months, and completed by the end of November 2011. Although the operation has carried out most relief distributions and some sensitization activities, other activities were delayed because of political violence affecting the country. In early September 2011, Guinean opposition parties decided to organize a march in protest to the Government’s unilateral decision to hold the elections of the members of Parliament in December 2011. The protestors invaded the streets and clashed violently with police. Some people were reported to have been killed in the violence. The priority of the Red Cross volunteers was to deliver First Aid services and ensure the evacuation of injured people to hospitals.

As a consequence, some planned activities were delayed. For instance, some relief items could not be purchased due to closure of shops. Taking into account the delay of the activities, the Red Cross Society of Guinea disaster management department has revised the plan of action accordingly and requested extension of the operational timeframe from 30 November 2011 to 31 December, 2011 A Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (i.e. by 31 March 2012).

Funds to replenish this DREF have been provided by DG-ECHO, Netherlands Red Cross and government as well as the Canadian Red Cross and CIDA. The major donors and partners of DREF include the Red Cross Societies and governments of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the U.S.A., as well as DG-ECHO, the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID), the Medtronic and Z Zurich Foundations and other corporate and private donors. The IFRC, on behalf of the National Society, thanks all for their generous contributions.