CERF allocates $ 775,000 to UNICEF, UNDP and WFP to assist families who were affected by Tropical Storm Olga
Six weeks after Noel, another tropical storm hit the Dominican Republic on 12 December. Olga claimed the lives of 33 people and temporarily displaced 61,000. Initial assessments determined that 1,900 homes were seriously damaged.
 |
WFP is focusing on the nutritional status of young children and pregnant and lactating women because malnutrition among these groups can cause serious long-term health problems.
[Photo: WFP] |
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is using a CERF allocation to assist 5,000 families and 8,000 children under ten years of age in meeting their priority needs in terms of food security, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation. Hygiene and cleaning kits for families as well as jerry cans to store and carry water are being distributed to help prevent the outbreak of diarrhoeal diseases and other infections. UNICEF is also distributing kits of baby food and protein supplements for children under ten.
Another CERF grant is enabling the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to support 940 families who are returning to their homes in areas of lower risk. The project aims at assisting returning families in establishing healthier conditions in their communities and at supporting emergent initiatives from those beneficiaries who lost their homes and livelihoods.
With CERF funding the World Food Programme (WFP) is providing life-saving food rations to 25,000 displaced people living in shelters. The beneficiaries, in particular pregnant or lactating women and children under 5 years of age, are receiving supplementary feeding for 30 days, including rice, beans and vegetable oil.
[Last Update:10 January 2008]
CERF allocates $ 3.1 million for humanitarian assistance to those affected by Tropical Storm Noel
Tropical Storm Noel hit the Dominican Republic on 30 October 2007. The heavy and prolonged rainfall hit most of the country. Over 16,000 homes were partially or completely destroyed and 35 bridges and highways damaged. In total, approximately 66,600 people have been displaced.
 |
The Dominican Republic Red Cross has mobilized some 500 volunteers to help distribute WFP's emergency rations
[Photo: WFP] |
The CERF has allocated US$ 3.1 million for UN agencies to respond to the disaster. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is working with the government, local health authorities and other UN agencies to protect children and vulnerable groups affected by Tropical Storm Noel. It is strengthening the local capacity to meet health, psychosocial, and legal needs of the most vulnerable population, with an emphasis on women and girls of reproductive age, people living with HIV/AIDS, pregnant women and the elderly. Over 100,000 are targeted.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is providing health protection to 1.7 million people distressed by the storm. Provincial health authorities, local community organizations, local water supply companies and NGOs are partnering with WHO and will provide medicine and sanitation kits and will monitor health conditions.
Emergency food assistance to storm affected populations is being provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the Dominican Red Cross. The aid targets 35,000 people including high risk children and pregnant women.
In addition, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) is using a CERF grant to support the return of people to isolated and affected areas. Their return to a more stable situation is, however, jeopardized, amongst other factors, by infrastructure damages as well as excessive amounts of garbage and mud accumulated in the affected areas. Activities will include, among others, the organization and employment of community brigades to remove the rubble, clean the drains, and rehabilitate the key access points, such as culverts, roads and water channels in affected communities in Bajo Yuna, Padre Las Casas, Villa Altagracia and San Jose de Ocoa.
[Last Update: 27 November 2007]