CERF allocates $10 million in response to the earthquake in Chile
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A child walking past destruction in Chile
[Photo: UNICEF]
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17 March 2010: CERF has allocated more than US$10 million to Chile in support of the government’s effort to help people cope with the effects of the powerful earthquake that hit the country on 27 February 2010.
The International Organization of Migration (IOM) has been allocated $3 million to provide temporary shelter and kitchen and hygiene kits for some 1,400 beneficiary families. Some $2.1 million will go to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the protection of 40,000 children and to address water, sanitation and hygiene needs for 200,000 people. The World Health Organization (WHO)/Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will receive $2 million for health services and essential supplies and medicines for over 3.5 million people. Some $1.2 million has been allocated to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to build 50 temporary school facilities (tent structures) to help restart primary and secondary schooling for 655,000 children. Close to $1 million has been allocated to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to support fishing communities. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will receive $528,000 to provide stoves (that will also serve as heaters) for 600 families in coastal areas with limited fire wood availability. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will receive $187,000 for reproductive health supplies/services for 25,000 women and for HIV prevention activities to benefit 18,000 people. Finally, $125,000 will go to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the provision of critical emergency telecommunications equipment for UN agencies and partners during the emergency relief phase.
A massive earthquake, measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale, struck Chile on 27 February 2010. The earthquake, one of the largest ever recorded, was followed by a tsunami that hit the coastal regions of Chile. The official death toll currently stands at more than 500 and initial estimates suggest that some 1.5 million homes and other buildings were damaged.
In response to the disaster, the Government of Chile mobilized significant resources and is leading the overall relief response. While basic services such as electricity, telecommunications and water are being re-established in urban centres, in coastal and rural areas significant gaps persist in the areas of shelter, emergency education, WASH, health, emergency telecommunications and livelihood support/restoration.
[last update: 19 March 2010]