CHF 106,551 has been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Seychelles Red Cross Society (SRCS) in delivering immediate assistance to some 3,000 beneficiaries. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
Summary: On 27 and 28 January 2013, the Seychelles main island of Mahe was devastated by the Tropical depression Feleng and the island La Digue was severely affected.
The districts lying on the eastern coasts of Mahe, including Pointe Larue, Au Cap, Anse Aux Pins and Cascade have been the worst hit. Severe floods and landslides from the heavy rains have devastated these districts. The government issued a Code Red warning on 28 January and lifted it on the same day in the evening, although the country remained on alert.
Initial assessments indicate that approximately 1,000 families have been affected, with 246 families currently registered as having been displaced after their houses were either totally destroyed or partially damaged. Currently, 208 displaced families (out of the 246) are sheltered in temporary accommodation centres, while 38 are staying with family or friends. Approximately 400 households are living under insanitary conditions surrounded by stagnant and contaminated water.
To date SRCS has worked closely with the civil protection authorities and supported evacuation activities, clearing of debris, pumping water as well as distribution of food and relief support. Additionally, the National Society has also provided psychosocial support to the persons affected by the flooding.
With this DREF, the National Society will provide basic household and hygiene items to 165 vulnerable families displaced by the floods currently staying at temporary accommodation centres who have lost all their belongings. Furthermore, 600 families will be targeted with health education and interventions to decrease the risk for waterborne and water related diseases, in particular cholera, diarrheal diseases, malaria, and dengue fever, among others. Psychosocial support will be provided to affected families on the two affected islands. In relation to water, sanitation and hygiene activities, focus will be on disinfection of houses and affected areas, as well as hygiene promotion for the families exposed to health risks. The operation is designed to be complementary to government efforts.
This operation is expected to be implemented over three months, and will therefore be completed by 7 May 2013; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 7 August, 2013).
The major donors and partners of DREF include the Australian, American and Belgian governments, the Austrian Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross and government, Danish Red Cross and government, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), the Irish and the Italian governments, the Japanese Red Cross Society, the Luxembourg government, the Monaco Red Cross and government, the Netherlands Red Cross and government, the Norwegian Red Cross and government, the Spanish Government, the Swedish Red Cross and government, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the Medtronic and Z Zurich Foundations, and other corporate and private donors.