<Click here to view the attached Preliminary Emergency Appeal Budget; here to link to a map of the affected area; or here to view contact details>

Transcription

1 Colombia: Floods Preliminary Emergency Appeal MDRCO008 GLIDE FL COL 7 December 2010 This Preliminary Emergency Appeal seeks 365,446 Swiss francs (364,166 US dollars or 278,944 euro) in cash, kind, or services to support the Colombian Red Cross Society (CRCS) to assist some 3,800 families (19,000 persons) in five departments of the country. The operation will take place over 6 months, and will be completed by the end of May A Final Report will be made available by 1 August ,000 Swiss francs was allocated from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support this operation. Unearmarked funds to replenish DREF are encouraged. The Department of Bolivar is the worst affected by the current rainy season. More than 264,000 people are affected, with vast areas still under water. Source: Silvia Ballen/ CRCS. The effects of the weather phenomenon of La Niña have produced rains across Colombia that exceed previous historical records. There are landslides and ongoing floods in 28 of the 32 departments, having affected some 1,368,155 people over a nine-month period. On 18 November, the Colombian government declared a state of public calamity, as the country s capacities are saturated and new resources are needed. Based on the situation, this Preliminary Emergency Appeal responds to a request from the Colombian Red Cross Society, and focuses on providing support to ensure an appropriate and timely response to deliver relief items, provide safe water, carry out health and sanitation activities, and provide temporary shelter solutions to the affected population. <Click here to view the attached Preliminary Emergency Appeal Budget; here to link to a map of the affected area; or here to view contact details> The situation Since its development from mid year 2010, the weather phenomenon of La Niña has had a significant effect across Colombia once the first rainy season (March to May) concluded. La Niña produced rains on the normally dry months of June, July and August, and interacted with the hurricane season between September and November. As a consequence, Colombia has suffered an uncommonly long rainy season, with rains exceeding historical records which have caused landslides, flash floods, breakage of flood barriers, and

2 2 therefore ongoing floods in 28 departments and 623 municipalities. As of 29 November, 87.5 per cent of the country was affected and according to the CRCS, there are an estimated 288,633 affected families (1,368,155 persons), 223 injured, 162 deaths, 19 missing people, and 233,025 damaged homes during the period from 23 March to 29 November. The worst affected departments are Bolivar, with 293,076 affected people, followed by Magdalena with 161,131, Córdoba with 151,781, Sucre with 107,160, Choco with 96,498, Antioquia with 87,536, Atlántico with 73,218, Cesar with 69,600 and Valle del Cauca with 59,742 people. Furthermore, the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies forecasts that the La Niña phenomenon and its strong rains will continue until the first quarter of This could mean the overlapping of the rainy seasons of 2010 with the first rainy season of 2011 (March-April-May). As the main rivers in the country, the Magdalena and Cauca, are still at their highest levels, the continuous rains will likely increase the levels of affectation. With the deterioration of the situation, on 18 November the Minister of Justice declared a state of public calamity in 28 of the 32 departments in the country. The government also initiated the Colombia Humanitaria campaign to facilitate the mobilization of additional resources as the country s capacities are exceeded. This declaration also accelerates the processes to receive international aid as the Colombian Foreign Affairs Office is requesting support from the United Nations to assist the affected families. On 26 November, the Minister of Justice communicated that the government is also considering declaring a state of national catastrophe in the following days. The following table shows the number of people affected and damages assessed by the CRCS over a period of nine months, from late March to 29 November 2010: Department Deaths Injured Missing Persons Families Homes Homes Affected Affected Destroyed Affected BOLIVAR ,076 58, ,598 MAGDALENA ,131 32, ,031 CORDOBA ,781 30, ,031 SUCRE ,160 27, ,553 CHOCO ,498 20, ,230 ANTIOQUIA ,536 18, ,735 ATLÁNTICO ,218 14, ,420 CESAR ,600 14, ,668 VALLE DEL CAUCA ,742 13, ,466 GUAJIRA ,606 7, ,034 SANTANDER ,363 6, ,878 NARIÑO ,728 5, ,479 CAUCA ,262 4, ,169 BOYACA ,342 3, ,194 RISARALDA ,706 3, ,238 TOLIMA ,441 3, ,296 CAQUETA ,391 3, ,838 META ,175 2, ,640 BOGOTA D.C ,119 2, ,951 CUNDINAMARCA ,903 3, ,885 NORTE DE SANTANDER ,611 2, ,497 CASANARE ,694 1, ,230 CALDAS ,906 1, ,101 ARAUCA , AMAZONAS , HUILA , PUTUMAYO QUINDIO

3 3 GUAVIARE TOTAL ,368, ,637 1, ,025 The National System for Prevention of and Response to Disasters (Sistema Nacional para la Prevención y Atención de Desastres SNPAD) reports that 1,505 hectares of farmland were destroyed in the Mamposina Depression (an area formed by municipalities from the Bolivar, Sucre, Córdoba, Magdalena and Cesar departments), with serious consequences on the region s food security. Similarly, the local press states that the latest rains created losses of approximately 360 million dollars in the flower and stockbreeding industry. Solely in the municipalities of Mosquera, Chia and Cajica neighbouring the capital city of Bogota, an estimated 3,000 hectares of farms were flooded. In addition to the material losses, thousands of workers from the affected areas became unemployed and are without social security, while the cost of living rises as food runs short due to the flooding of farms and the damages to the road infrastructure. Many small farmers are being forced to sell their livestock due to lack of animal feed and excess water. There is no immediate solution for them as the water levels are forecast to remain high for a period of time. Coordination and partnerships In Colombia, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has a Memorandum of Understanding in place which is part of a series of mechanisms to ensure appropriate and effective coordination. The Colombian Red Cross Society has assisted some 72,188 people affected by the current rainy season. Source: CRCS Therefore, the CRCS is in constant communication with the IFRC s Pan American Disaster Response Unit, the Regional Representation for the Andean Region, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Partner National Societies (PNS), which are monitoring the situation and determining actions. On 16 August 2010, 68,288 Swiss Francs were allocated from the IFRC s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to deliver immediate assistance to 500 families. The CRCS also received support from the Spanish Red Cross and the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID) to assist 400 families. Similarly, the CRCS is coordinating with the Swiss Cooperation Office (COSUDE) to develop a project in the Magdalena and Choco departments targeting 1,500 families with health and water and sanitation activities, while a partnership of the Netherlands Red Cross with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will further support the Choco department. In addition, the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) will support the CRCS with non-food items (NFI) for 1,000 families in the Bolivar department. There are also ongoing conversations with OXFAM, the German Red Cross and the American Red Cross to coordinate other actions. As part of the humanitarian response to the conflict situation, the ICRC delegation, its 12 sub-delegations and offices, have developed a strong operational partnership with the CRCS all over the country. The ICRC and the CRCS are implementing joint activities in the field of humanitarian assistance for internally displaced persons in three cities: Pasto, San Jose de Guaviare and Villavicencio, and with regard to large-scale displacements are working countrywide in conflict areas. There is also coordination in the fields of weapons

4 4 contamination in 15 provinces, psychological support to displaced families in four provinces, and of community first aid in eight provinces. Moreover, the ICRC is contributing to the CRCS coordination and response efforts related to the current floods. According to the needs, the ICRC will extend its support to the CRCS in restoring family links and logistics. All the activities are being developed in close coordination with the SNPAD to maximize the response and avoid duplications of efforts. Red Cross and Red Crescent action The Colombian Red Cross Society, through its branches, supports and coordinates with the local and regional disaster risk management committees. Approximately 200 staff and 1,500 volunteers have been activated and deployed in various response teams, including the National Intervention Teams (NITs). The teams mobilized have provided support to the early warning system through evacuation of families at risk. Moreover, in coordination with the government and community leaders, the teams carried out damage and needs assessments, provided first aid care, and designed plans to improve the efficiency of further relief activities. The CRCS also has an ongoing national collection campaign carried out in collaboration with Radio Caracol to collect relief items. Several private businesses and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have provided donations. Thus far, the Colombian Red Cross Society has assisted some 72,188 families (approximately 374,049 people) and has installed two water treatment plants to support families in the departments of Cesar, Córdoba and Sucre. The following table details the number of beneficiaries reached as of 30 November: Type of support Families Persons Value (CHF)* Humanitarian emergency relief 54, ,301 1,390,330 Water and Sanitation 16,521 82, ,423 Collective Centres 1,372 6, ,309 Health - 3,600 30,675 TOTAL 72, ,049 2,522,737 *This value is a conversion from Colombian pesos (exchange rate as of 30 November 2010) and it does not include in-kind donations received in rural areas. While the Colombian Red Cross Society has been able to respond so far with local resources, the accumulated impact has reached a point that requires additional international assistance to be able to meet the increasing needs. Therefore, this Preliminary Emergency Appeal aims at expanding the current response and will be revised and scaled-up as required, depending on needs and resources available. The needs The most urgent humanitarian needs identified are food, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, sleeping-mats, blankets and bed sheets, hammocks and mosquito nets. There is also need for emergency shelter, health care and water and sanitation activities, as well as logistics and management support. In the longer term, early recovery programmes will be needed to support agricultural activities and the relocation of families living in flood-prone areas. This particular task will be carried out by the government. This Emergency Appeal targets 3,800 families in five departments. Activities Target of people to be reached Relief Distribution 1,500 families 7,500 persons

5 5 Hygiene, Water and Sanitation 1,500 families 7,500 persons Health 750 families 3,750 persons Shelter 50 families 250 persons TOTAL 3,800 families 19,000 persons The target families are being selected following two criteria: level of affectation and vulnerability of the family based on current assessments, as well as ensuring that the families place of residence is an area that has not yet received aid from another humanitarian organization or the government. Also, as the needs vary from region to region, it is most likely that the beneficiaries of relief distributions will not necessarily be the same as those benefiting with health care. The proposed operation Relief distributions (food and basic non-food items) Outcome: The families most affected by the constant rains in five departments will benefit with humanitarian emergency relief to support their efforts to resume essential household activities. Outputs Activities planned 1,500 families (7,500 persons) Conduct rapid emergency needs and capacity assessments. in five departments will Develop beneficiary targeting strategy and registration system to receive hygiene kits, kitchen deliver intended assistance. Coordinate with the Regional kits, dinner sets, hammocks Committees for Disaster Prevention and Relief (CREPAD), the Local and mosquito nets. Committees for Disaster Prevention and Relief (CLOPAD) and local authorities to prioritize affected families and develop a beneficiary targeting strategy. Procurement and distribution of relief items. Coordination of relief distributions with CLOPAD and CREPAD. Monitoring and evaluation of the relief activities and quality of items and reporting on relief distributions. With the support of the emergency appeal, the CRCS will procure and distribute the following non-food items: 1,500 hygiene kits 1,500 kitchen kits (only cooking utensils) 1,500 dinner sets 3,000 mosquito nets (2 per family) 1,000 hammocks (2 per family) (see below) 2,000 sleeping mats (2 per family) (see below) All these items, with the exception of the sleeping mats and mosquito nets, will be purchased locally. In Colombia, a kitchen kit only includes cooking utensils and does not have dinnerware. For this reason, dinner sets are considered as a separate article. In order to respect cultural patterns, the CRCS will distribute hammocks to the indigenous families, as it is their preferred solution. However, the rest of the targeted families will receive sleeping mats instead. Although not included in this emergency appeal, the CRCS will also distribute food parcels with the help of national donations. The food parcels will be procured taking into account local food habits and SPHERE standards. Emergency health and care Outcome: The families affected by the current rainy season will have access to primary health care and monitoring. Outputs Activities planned

6 6 Public health services are supported with mobile health units to meet the health needs of 750 families (3,750 persons). Selected affected groups and communities receiving psychosocial support have increased their resilience and coping mechanisms. Coordinate with existing health public services to assess and monitor the health risks of 750 families in terms of health services, prevention, health needs and risk of communicable diseases. Assist 750 families with health care through Mobile Health Units, consultation and distribution of medicines, as well as provide advice on children s growth and development. Organize and facilitate educational activities on hygiene promotion, skin diseases, acute respiratory infections and diarrheic diseases. Provide psychosocial support to 750 families (3,750 persons) affected by the current rainy season. Provide psychological support to medical staff and volunteers. Before initiating the medical consultations, the CRCS will carry out health assessments to determine the most common epidemiological profiles in the affected regions and the gaps in the public health services. All the medicines will be purchased based on the most common pathologies that will be identified during the assessments. Water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion Outcome: The risk of waterborne and water related diseases is reduced through the provision of safe water, adequate sanitation as well as hygiene promotion to 1,500 families. Outputs Activities planned 1,500 families have improved Conduct rapid health and water and sanitation emergency needs and access to safe water. capacity assessments in coordination with CREPAD, CLOPAD and community leaders. Select beneficiary families and develop a delivery strategy in coordination with the relevant local authorities. Purchase and distribution of 700 artisan earthenware water filters. Train beneficiaries in the use and maintenance of water filters. Mobilize two water treatment plants to supply safe water to 800 families in temporary shelters. Conduct 10 training workshops and 5 days of hygiene promotion and use of safe water. Sanitation activities will be considered following the results of water and sanitation emergency needs and capacity assessments. Shelter Outcome: Households in the most affected municipality have safe and adequate temporary shelter and settlement solutions. Outputs Activities planned 50 families are assisted with Coordination with SNPAD, local authorities and community leaders shelter solutions. to assess shelter needs and preferred solutions, as well as to select the beneficiary families. Enable the provision of safe and adequate locally appropriate shelter solutions. Promote increased awareness and understanding of safe and adequate shelter response programming with the National Society and affected communities. The Colombian government currently has the responsibility of assisting the persons in temporary shelters, complemented by the CRCS water and sanitation activities. As the need for emergency shelter is thus covered, this Preliminary Emergency Appeal aims to reduce the vulnerability of 50 families by improving the flood resilience of their homes. The CRCS is also coordinating with other partners to support this initiative.

7 7 Logistics Outcome 1: The local logistics and transport capacity of the Colombian Red Cross Society will be strengthened Outputs Activities planned Three temporary warehouses Rent the space for three temporary warehouses and arrange will be established at appropriate transportation to distribution points. strategic points to facilitate Distribute relief supplies and control supply movements from point of distribution in rural areas. dispatch to end user. Distribution of relief items is A 4x4 vehicle will be rented for the duration of the operation. facilitated. Based on previous experiences with large operations in rural areas, the CRCS will temporarily rent warehouses at strategic points to avoid the need for delivering items from larger cities to communities six or more hours away. Once the operation is completed, these warehouses will be closed. The IFRC s Regional Logistics Unit (RLU), based in Panama, is providing technical support to the Colombian Red Cross Society and is mobilizing non-food items from Panama for 1,500 families. Mobilization of relief goods, including in-kind donations and transport to Colombia, is coordinated through the RLU in Panama. Please contact the RLU for details of shipping instructions and allocation of the Commodity Tracking Number before the dispatch of any shipments. The updated mobilization table for this operation can be found on the Federation s Disaster Management Information System under Logistics: Communications Advocacy and Public information Maintaining a steady flow of timely and accurate information between the field and other major stakeholders is vital for fundraising, advocacy and maintaining the profile of emergency operations. During an operation, communications between affected populations and the Red Cross and Red Crescent, as well as with the media and donors, is an essential mechanism for effective disaster response and the cornerstone to promote greater quality, accountability, and transparency. The Communication and Image Department of the CRCS, in coordination with the Relief Department, conducts following activities during an emergency: 1. Gather information and reports from the field. 2. Support the Relief Department with regular situation reports issued through the IFRC s Disaster Management Information System (DMIS). 3. Activate the Communication Network throughout the 32 branches. This network consists of five journalists and specialized volunteers that provide support with photographs, articles and interviews. 4. Update the CRCS webpage. 5. Coordinate with the IFRC communications and PMER departments in the Americas Zone Office. 6. Write press reports and provide interviews to local and international media. 7. Work as back-up support for official spokespersons. 8. Maintain fluid communications with all volunteers and staff of the CRCS. 9. Support the fund-raising campaigns through communications materials. 10. Use of social-networks websites such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to send invitations to donate and to advertise CRCS actions. Capacity of the National Society The CRCS has extensive disaster response experience as a result of implementation of different types of disaster response operations. Disaster preparedness initiatives are well established all the volunteers and staff are familiar with them. Many of the volunteers engaged in the operation have been trained by PADRU technical specialists over the course of the most recent operations funded by DREF allocations implemented in the country. During the current emergency, the Colombian Red Cross Society activated its National Contingency Plan, its Emergency Operation Centre and the response plans for its 32 branches. Furthermore, the National Society activated its response network consisting of: 31 warehouses, 14 water treatment plants, and human resources

8 8 including NITs, Regional Intervention Teams members and relief directors. Thus far, the National Society does not require delegates from Partner National Societies. Finally, the administrative and accounting structure of the CRCS is in a position to manage the resources based on Colombian Law. Capacity of the IFRC The IFRC, through PADRU and the Regional Representation for the Andean Region, is providing support to the National Society for the emergency response. A Disaster Management delegate has been deployed to support the development of the plan of action and relief distributions. Additionally, PADRU will continue to provide technical support, including for the tendering and purchasing processes within the country. This support could include material and technical support for all of the objectives, as needed. Budget summary See attached budget (Annex 1) for details. Matthias Schmale Under Secretary General Programme Services Bekele Geleta Secretary General How we work All IFRC assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. The IFRC s vision is to inspire, encourage, facilitate and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies, with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering, and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world. The IFRC s work is guided by Strategy 2020 which puts forward three strategic aims: 1. Save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen recovery from disaster and crises. 2. Enable healthy and safe living. 3. Promote social inclusion and a culture of nonviolence and peace. Contact information For further information specifically related to this operation please contact: In Colombia: Carlos Marquez, Relief Director, Colombian Red Cross Society, phone: carlos.marquez@cruzrojacolombiana.org In Peru: Fernando Casanova, Regional Representative for the Andean Region; phone: , fernando.casanova@ifrc.org In Panama: Jorge Zequeira, PADRU Coordinator, phone: ; jorge.zequeira@ifrc.org In Panama: Alvaro Garita, Disaster Management Delegate, phone: ; padru.rit01@ifrc.org In Panama: Douglas Baquero; Regional Logistic Coordinator; phone: ; douglas.baquero@ifrc.org In Panama: Jan Gelfand; Head of Operations; phone: ; jan.gelfand@ifrc.org In Panama: Zuleyka Maynard; Resource Mobilization officer; phone: ; zuleyka.maynard@ifrc.org

9 9 In Geneva: Pablo Medina, Operations Coordinator; phone: ; fax: ; <Preliminary Emergency Appeal budget and map below; click here to return to the title page>

10 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Colombia: Floods 03/12/2010 MDRCO008 BUDGET SUMMARY Shelter - Relief Shelter - Transitional Construction - Housing Consruction - Facilities / Infrastructure Construction - Materials Clothing & Textiles Food Seeds & Plants Water & Sanitation Medical & First Aid Teaching Materials Ustensils & Tools Budget Group Multilateral Response Inter-Agency Shelter Coordination Coordinated Support (ERUs) TOTAL BUDGET CHF 20,000 20,000 37,000 37,000 64,500 64,500 21,300 21,300 4,135 4,135 52,500 52,500 Other Supplies & Services & Cash Disbursments 39,000 39,000 ERU (Emergency Response Units) Total Supplies 238, ,435 Land & Buildings Vehicles Computer & Telecom Office/Household Furniture & Equipment Medical Equipment Other Machiney & Equipment Total Land, vehicles & equipment Storage Dsitribution & Monitoring Transport & Vehicle Costs Total Transport & Storage ,000 10,000 50,000 50,000 60, ,612 International Staff 3,300 3,300 Regionally Deployed Staff National Staff 4,500 4,500 National Society Staff 15,900 15,900 Other Staff benefits Consultants Total Personnel 23, ,700 Workshops & Training Total Workshops & Training Travel Information & Public Relation Office Costs Communications Professional Fees Financial Charges Other General Expenses Total General Expenditure Cash Transfers to National Socieities Cash Transfers to 3rd parties Total Contributions & Transfers Program Support Total Programme Support Services & Recoveries Shared Services Total Services TOTAL BUDGET Available Resources Multilateral Contributions ERUs contributions TOTAL AVAILABLE RESOURCES NET EMERGENCY APPEAL NEEDS ,000 8,000 1,000 1,000 3,000 3,000 2,000 2,000 5,000 5,000 19, , , ,304 22, ,304 1,395 1,395 1, , , , , ,446

11 MDRCO008 6 December 2010 FL COL Colombia: Floods Nicaraga La Guajira Netherlands Antilles Costa Rica Panama Panama City Atlantico Magdalena Cesar Sucre Bolivar Cordoba Norde de Santander Venezuela Narino Cauca Antioquia Valle del Cauca Tolima Huila Santander Meta Guaviare Arauca Choco Boyaca Caldas Casanare Cundinamarca Risaralda Bogota Quindio Colombia Putumayo Caqueta Quito Ecuador Amazonas Brazil km Peru Most affected departments State of public calamity The maps used do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or National Societies concerning the legal status of a territory or of its authorities. Map data sources: ESRI, DEVINFO, International Federation, Colombian Ministry of Interior - MDRCO008.mxd