ReliefWeb

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 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.

Summary: CHF 192,662 was allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Senegalese Red Cross Society in delivering immediate assistance to some 1,000 families affected by floods in the city of Thiès. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

In keeping with its mission of serving the public and assisting public authorities, the Senegalese Red Cross (SRC) provided relief for flood victims in the city of Thiès after the downpour of 1 and 2 August 2011, in which more than 1,500 families were affected and some 6,000 people directly affected.

Following an assessment mission, a plan of action to assist the most vulnerable among the affected populations was elaborated. The operation reached the targeted 1,000 households with essential relief materials, supplies for water and hygiene as well as promotion of safe hygiene practices to prevent spread of waterborne disease. Volunteers and technical experts built 100 latrines. Although the operation had planned to provide temporary shelter to 328 displaced families, the detailed assessment conducted prior to the start of operations showed that the majority of the affected people had returned home. As a consequence, the operation did not need to spend what it had budgeted for shelter and a balance remained to be returned to the DREF. Thirty volunteers from the Thiès Departmental Committee were trained for five days on shelter by the members of the SRC NDRT/Shelter.

The European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), as well as the Netherlands and Canadian Red Cross Societies/governments contributed to the DREF in replenishment of the allocation made for this operation. The major donors and partners of DREF include the Red Cross Societies and governments of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID), the U.S.A., as well as 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.