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Fire leaves around 3,000 people vulnerable without any shelter in Benin

Pays
Bénin
Sources
IFRC
Date de publication
Origine
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CHF 139,315 has been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support Benin Red Cross National Society in delivering immediate assistance to some 2,759 beneficiaries. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Summary: Current dry and hot weather conditions in Benin are considerably increasing the risk for fires. Dusty hot winds from Sahara desert contributes to worsen the situation, spreading easily any fire outbreak to cause widespread destruction.

On the 6 th of January, a fire outbreak in the village of Alloya resulted in the destruction of hundreds of houses displacing almost 3,000 persons, with the families currently being in a very vulnerable situation without any shelter.

Benin Red Cross (Benin RC) has mobilized 25 staff and volunteers who are currently providing first aid services in the affected communities and assessing the situation and needs of affected families in the communities. Additionally, the Benin RC volunteers has organized for cleaning up in the village after the fire disaster, and are providing hygiene awareness raising to the affected community.

With this DREF Operation, Benin RC will provide emergency assistance to the families that are still displaced. The emergency assistance will include temporary shelter, basic household items to displaced families and first aid services in the affected communities. Furthermore, emergency latrines and showers will be provided along with continued hygiene promotion awareness raising.

Since this hot and dry season particularly heightens the risk for outbreaks of fires, this DREF will include a preparedness component through increasing the capacity of the national society to respond to disasters involving fire, and raising awareness of affected community about the risk of fires and how to minimize the risks.

This operation is expected to be implemented over three months, and will therefore be completed by 18 April 2013. A final report will be made available three months after the end of the operation by 18 July 2013.