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
Operations Update no. 3 with revised plan and budget; Period covered: 08 September to 30 September, 2007; Appeal target: CHF 6,272,038 (USD 5,356,138 or EUR 3,778,336); Appeal coverage: 44%1.
Appeal history:
Launched on 20 August 2007 for CHF 6,619,166
(USD 5,481,948 or EUR 4,074,586) for six months to assist 3.7 million beneficiaries,
Operations Update 3 revises appeal and
budget on 1 October 2007 for CHF 6,272,038 (USD 5,356,138 or EUR 3,778,336);
for 9 months to assist 3.7 million beneficiaries.
Final report is due on August 2008.
Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF)
allocated on 15 August 2007 for CHF 250,000 (USD 205,572 or EUR 153,355).
Operational Summary: In early August, torrential rains and floods affected nine provinces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The DPRK Red Cross Society (DPRK RCS) mobilized tens of thousands of volunteers to evacuate and assist in the impending flooding, and immediately responded with relief supplies for those severely hit.
The emergency appeal, which was launched on 20 August, aims at improving the basic health care by providing emergency health kits, cholera kits, first aid kits and other medical items to selected health care facilities. It also includes chlorine to purify water, which would be provided to 22 counties with health promotion and education activities. Non-food relief items from the emergency stock were immediately distributed to 22,899 families. Work to replenish this emergency relief stock, which has been proven effective in the relief effort, is underway.
Three days of new rains from 18-21 September, with precipitation over 200 mm in a day, aggravated the situation in the west part of the DPRK. According to quick assessments conducted by the DPRK RCS, an additional 2,000 families appeared to be homeless and in need of assistance. Newly arrived relief equipment, originally aimed at increasing the relief stock, is now being distributed to the survivors. The items include blankets, water containers, water purification tablets and kitchen equipment.
With the aid coming in through different channels and the effects of the disaster on the country becoming clearer, the International Federation, in cooperation with the DPRK RCS, has decided to adjust the appeal objectives and budget related to health components of the relief operation. The original amount of interagency emergency health kits has been reduced to correspond to the number of kits that can be procured in the global market in a timely manner. Furthermore, the early arrival of the Federation's regular medical supplies means these can be distributed early. Therefore the appeal, originally released on 20 August, is revised and adjusted to match actual needs, shifting its focus from drug supplies to refurbishing destroyed clinics and providing new basic equipment that was lost in this years flood.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
The DPRK Red Cross Society: Kim Un Chol (acting secretary general); phone: +85.02.381.4350, fax: +85.02.381.3490
Federation DPRK country delegation: Mr. Jaap Timmer (head of delegation); jaap.timmer@ifrc.org; phone: +85.02.3814350, fax: +85.02.3813490
Federation regional representation in China: Mr. Carl Naucler (acting head of regional representation); carl.naucler@ifrc.org; phone: +86.10.65327162, fax: +86.10.65327166; Mr. Qinghui Gu (regional disaster management coordinator), email; qinghui.gu@ifrc.org; phone +86 1391 0959 834, fax+86-10-6532-7166.
Kuala Lumpur Regional Logistics Unit, Mr. Ilir Caushaj (regional logistics coordinator), email; ilir.caushaj@ifrc.org; mobile: + 60 12 628 2707, fax: +603 2168 8573
Federation Asia Pacific Zone in Malaysia: Mr. Jagan Chapagain (deputy head of Zone) email; jagan.chapagain@ifrc.org; phone + 60 3 2161 0892, fax + 60 3 2161 1210, mobile + 60 12 215 3765.
Federation Asia Pacific zone in Malaysia: Mr. Flemming Nielsen (acting head of disaster management unit), flemming.nielsen@ifrc.org, phone: + 60 3 2161 0892, fax: +60 3 2161 1210, mobile +60 12 3 751635
Federation secretariat in Geneva: Ms Ewa Eriksson (regional officer for East Asia), email: ewa.eriksson@ifrc.org, phone: + 41 22 730 4252, mobile: + 41 7 9217 3392, fax: +41 22 730 0395