Summary: CHF 106,551 was allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 7 February 2013, to support the Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) in delivering assistance to some 600 families (3,000 beneficiaries) and for replenishment of relief items distributed immediately following the disaster.
The DREF operation was launched following the heavy rains from the Feleng tropical depression in the Indian Ocean between 27 and 28 January 2013, that caused severe flooding in the regions of Anse Aux Pins, Au Cap, Point Larue on the main Island Mahe and on the third largest inhabited island, La Digue.
The Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) quickly responded to the disaster by activating its Branch Disaster Response Team (BDRT) volunteers from the Mahe branch and the National Society command centre immediately coordinated with the local administration to distribute mattresses and bed sheets to the most affected people.
A rapid assessment was conducted together with the Department of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM) and other relevant Ministries and this provided the first situation report which subsequently informed the initial response planning.IFRC deployed Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) members who supported the national society in conducting detailed assessments, response planning, training of staff and volunteers and provision of technical support.
This DREF operation enabled the distribution of emergency relief to 165 affected families on Mahe, which contributed to address immediate needs of the affected and displaced families. Up to 600 families were reached 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 was provided to around 275 affected persons in need of support. The water, sanitation and hygiene activities focused on hygiene promotion for vulnerable families exposed to health risks, including door to door awareness raising and campaigns broadcasted in media.
The Directorate General of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (DG ECHO) as well as IFRC’s Tsunami Residual Funds contributed to the full replenishment of the DREF allocation made for this operation.
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.
The IFRC, on behalf of Seychelles Red Cross, would like to extend thanks to all for their generous contributions