GLIDE n=B0 FL-2009-000170-MRT;
FL-2009-000172-BFA;
FL-2009-000174-NER;
FL-2009-000164-SEN;
FL-2009-000176-MLI;
FL-2009-000177-GMB
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.
CHF 200,000 (USD 187,758 or EUR 131,961) was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 6 September 2009 to support the National Societies in delivering assistance to support 3,450 displaced families (some 17,000 beneficiaries).
Summary: Since the start of the rainy season, the following sixteen countries have experienced significant flooding (Liberia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gambia, Gabon, Chad, Togo, Mali, Central African Republic, Ghana, Benin, Mauritania, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Senegal). Initial estimates indicate that more than 200,000 people have been affected; thousands of families have been uprooted from their homes and material losses are considerable. The number of people affected is expected to climb. More recent floods have caused further damage in Guinea, Chad and Sierra Leone.
The current flooding comes soon after the Federation launched a preliminary Emergency Appeal (10 August 2009) for CHF 918,000 (EUR 604,000 / USD 852,000) to assist the Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in disaster preparedness, including the readiness of trained staff and volunteers and delivering vital relief items from pre-positioned emergency stocks in the region. It is worth noting the link between the Emergency Appeal and the current operation, which was part of the Federation's planned approach to put early warning and early action into practice and which has enabled this timely response. This also reflects the effectiveness of collaborative efforts and partnerships with, among other organizations, the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) that provided credible early warning from weather data that forecast a risk of serious flooding in West and Central Africa. The information received from ACMAD allowed the National Societies to prepare accordingly. The assessments already completed or currently underway will lead to the development of further strategies to support National Societies to assist those affected in their countries. While the situation is evolving, possible actions under consideration among several includes the launch of country-based appeals in those countries most affected by worsening conditions, the resulting needs, and any required support.