Storms and floods Update No. 4 - Revised

Source: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Date: 06 Nov 2006

The Federation’s mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 185 countries.

In Brief

Appeal No. MDRTP001; Operations Update no. 04;
Period covered: July – September 2006; Appeal coverage: fully covered

Appeal history:

- Emergency Appeal launched on 23 February 2006 for CHF 569,685 (USD 431,253 or EUR 364,016) to assist some 8,400 beneficiaries for six months.

- In Operations Update 3 (posted 27 July), the Federation extended the operation to 30 November 2006 – an extension of just over three months – because of the recent civil unrest.

- Budget revised upwards to CHF 709,841 (USD 567,872 or EUR 446,440) in Operations Update 4 (first released on 9 October and re-released with revised budget on 6 November 2006) to align with the positive response from donors.

- CHF 200,000 has been allocated from the Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF)

Related Emergency or Annual Appeals:

Timor-Leste Appeal 2006-2007 MAATP001, Southeast Asia Regional Appeal 2006-2007 MAA51001 Operation Summary: Partner response to the Emergency Appeal has been outstanding. Cruz Vermelha De Timor-Leste (Timor-Leste Red Cross, CVTL) has assisted thousands of those affected by the storms and floods. The recent and ongoing instability, however, caused significant delays. CVTL’s few resources were stretched and, indeed, diverted to provide support to the tens of thousands of people displaced by the violence. Lately, activities have been getting back on track. Improved security, with support of international forces from Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and UN missions, has enabled a more robust operational approach with vulnerable communities being supported. It is anticipated that despite the fragility of the security situation, the operation will be complete at the end of the extended period. The Federation’s delegation in Timor-Leste continues to support the ongoing emergence of CVTL as an effective humanitarian organization. Partnership with both vulnerable communities and government is improving. In the meantime, the appeal budget has been realigned to adjust to the overwhelming positive response from donors (click here for the revised budget attached).

Background

A series of storms and flooding from late December 2005 through January 2006 affected some 8,400 people in Timor-Leste, resulting in severe losses of livelihood and shelters. Since then, Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (Timor-Leste Red Cross- CVTL) has been at the forefront of efforts to help thousands of those affected. Based on the six month operation plans focusing on the provision of safe drinking water, rebuilding of shelters, livelihoods and capacity building of the national society, activities were implemented. However, the internal conflict halted projects halfway through the programme. The arrival of an Australian-led military mission, with support from Portugul, New Zealand, Malaysia and UN missions improved the situation and projects began to be implemented again. A three-month extension to the programme was requested in the last update. By then CVTL should have provided significant support to affected communities and a final report will be prepared charting the history of the operation, including achievements and lessons learned. However, there will be a need to carry over resources to the disaster management programme in the annual appeal, which concentrates on capacity building (Timor- Leste Appeal 2006-2007). Discussions with partners to request for their agreement are ongoing. This flexibility will ensure that CVTL will emerge from this operation stronger in terms of its disaster management competency as well as completed service delivery to beneficiaries in designated districts.

Operational development

Despite the internal conflict, activities regained momentum with significant progress to date. CVTL has made a huge effort to deliver services before, during and after tensions. Some 280 families who lost their houses have received building materials along with the design demonstration. Beneficiaries have started building their own houses and some families have already moved into their new homes. In the badly-affected enclave community of Oe-cusse, CVTL water technicians are working with the communities to install seven deep wells at new locations considered safe from future flooding. Further assessment by CVTL disaster management team and district branches identified an additional 103 families to receive sets of shelter materials. It also planned an additional six wells to be built in Oe-cusse. A tender process for the provision of the additional sets of shelters materials and the wells is currently ongoing. It is anticipated that by the end of October and through November families will receive their shelter materials.

Red Cross and Red Crescent actions

Provision of immediate relief assistance (non-food items)

Objective 1: 500 families in Oe-cusse are protected from immediate health threats in terms of unsafe water and mosquitoes.

Achievements

- The construction teams have been back on site to complete the installation of seven deep wells despite disruptions around the internal conflict. The new locations are considered safe from future flooding.

- Sufficient funding has been received to enable the building of additional wells. As such, an additional six wells will be constructed. Tender is currently out for potential suppliers. It is anticipated that materials for the new wells will be on site by mid-October.

- In the immediate aftermath of the flooding, communities were vulnerable to health threats, exacerbated by a lack of unsafe drinking water. CVTL has made 100 wells safe for use. Villagers have also received 2,000 mosquito nets. The need for an additional 1,000 additional nets was identified and these are being distributed. 1,000 jerry cans are also being distributed to families so that they can collect and secure safe water for drinking and cooking.

Provision of shelter materials (4 District)

Providing shelter materials to the most affected families in four districts - Baucau, Ainaro, Viqueque and Maliana - was one of the core activities of the appeal. The government generally has the major role in rebuilding lives of the affected families. However, lack of resources and difficulty in service delivery proved a constraint. With good partnership and recognition of its role and experience of working with people in such situations, CVTL was requested to provide supplementary assistance. To date CVTL has delivered 280 sets of shelter materials to the four districts. A housing construction demonstration was conducted to improve building techniques. A further 103 sets of housing materials are being procured after an appropriate revision was made to the budget. They should be distributed by mid October.

For further information:

Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (Timor-Leste Red Cross): Ms. Isabel Amaral Guterres (secretary-general); email sec-gen@cvtl.tp; Phone: +67.07.24.8963; Fax: +67.03.32.1688

Federation delegation in Timor-Leste: Warwick Inder (head of delegation); email: warwick.inder@ifrc.org; Phone: +67.07.23.1434; Fax: +67.03.32.2010

Federation regional delegation in Bangkok: Bekele Geleta (head of regional delegation); email: bekele.geleta@ifrc.org; Phone: +66.2.640.8211; Fax: +66.2.640.8220

Federation Secretariat in Geneva: Gert Venghaus email: gert.venghaus@ifrc.org; Phone: +41.22.730.4258; Fax: +41.22.733.0395 or Sabine Feuglet; email: sabine.feuglet@ifrc.org; Phone: +41.22.730.4349; Fax: +41.22.733.0395

Note: (1) The contributions list does not as yet reflect the revised budget figures and was therefore not attached – this will be amended as soon as possible and reflected appropriately on the contributions list on the Federation website.

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