VOICES OF THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN SPECIAL EDITION
2017 IN REVIEW
Content EDITORIAL 4 2017 KEY ACTIONS 5 2017 IN PICTURES 8 Technology to fight Zika 14 OPERATIONS 16 Emergency Response 17 Hurricanes and storms 18 Hurricane Harvey 20 Hurricanes Irma and Maria 22 Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis Infographic 23 Cover picture
Dominica, Roseau, 26 Sep 2017. Hurricane Maria effected also the capital of Dominica, Roseau. The main river flooded and water level did rise sholder high in some parts of the downtown. Flood water filled homes and businesses with mud, sand, wood and debris. The people living in the city are doing their best with cleaning but the work will last for long. Photo: Nina Svahn / Finnish Red Cross
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Americas Regional Office City of Knowledge, Clayton Panama Dir +507 317 3050 Many thanks to all who have contributed to this number of Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean.
Health worries rise as evacuees plan return 24 Families in Haiti are still in need of assistance 25 Dominica infographic 27 Determined to rebuild after surviving ‘hell’ in Dominica 30 Many still without basic necessities 32 When a photo reunites a family 34
Hurricane Nate 36 Floods in Peru 38 Earthquakes in Mexico 40 Video: Costa Rica - Hurricane Nate Response
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EDITORIAL The year 2017 imposed a very demanding but very productive work agenda, which was translated into important achievements for regional cooperation and the strengthening of core capacities for several National Societies in the region. We want to show you, through this special edition of Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean, part of the actions that as a secretariat of the IFRC we developed in 2017 by, for and with our National Societies of Americas and the Caribbean. These actions have been framed in the 2017 regional plan and responds to goals defined in the Strategy 2020 and in the Inter-American Framework for Action. 2017 has been a complex year, in which the emergencies have kept us busy for the main part of the year, forcing us to postpone or delay many of the planned activities. However, together, the Secretariat and teams of the National Societies and their volunteers, we have achieved, with an effort that we thank and admire, to fulfill most of the expected commitments. From the Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean, we have a firm commitment to be accountable to our member National Societies, to fulfill our mission as a Secretariat, expanding and strengthening the Red Cross network in the region, its impact and relevance. Therefore, through this message for the beginning of the year, we want to give you this summary that is just a small sample of what was achieved in 2017. Our integral and integrated information system will allow us to show that the Red Cross in the Americas does not fall asleep, that it is current and stronger than ever and that it works in a coordinated manner, weaving integral networks with communities, governments and the private sector. Serve this as a call to participate by sharing information that allows us to achieve this goal. We want to send a message of peace and hope, for you, your families and all the volunteers, as well as the staff of the National Societies that you represent.
Condolence note Last December, we suffered the sad loss of Mr. Edmond Bradshaw, who was the General Director of the Barbados Red Cross Society, and very well known throughout the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. Given Mr. Bradshaw´s commitment and ongoing dedication to humanitarian issues that affect not only nations in the Caribbean but also the entire region, his departure represents a great loss for us all. Edmond Bradshaw was a friend and companion on this humanitarian journey; his always constructive criticism and desire to support all the regional National Societies helped guide Red Cross action in the Americas region. We join Edmond´s family, friends and the Barbados Red Cross Society in mourning this loss; while the emptiness left by Edmond Bradshaw will be difficult to fill, the support of all sister National Societies in the Americas region and the IFRC´s Americas Regional Office help the Barbados National Society through these difficult times.
2017 Key Actions 2017 was a year with great challenges, but also achievements for our regional cooperation and for the strengthening of the core capacities for the Americas National Societies. This is just a glimpse of the actions that as a Secretariat have been developed with, for and through our National Societies of the Americas and the Caribbean.
Strengthen National Societies Capacities • CORI (Inter-American Regional Committee) meeting held in Dominican Republic, with the participation of 35 NSs of the region. • Regional workshop on Auxiliary Role and Humanitarian Diplomacy for the Caribbean (8 NSs) and for Central America (6 NSs). • Regional Communicators meeting with the participation of delegates from 13 NSs (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Chile and Argentina). • 114 people trained in PMER topics across 18 NSs • Online course: “Strategic alliances, sensitization and corporate social responsibility”, 9 NSs registered (Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica). • Webinars: “Good practices of Corporate Social Responsibility”, in coordination with CREPD and Ecuador Red Cross, with 253 participants; and “Commercial First Aid Services”, with CREPD and Argentina Red Cross, with 312 participants. • Fleet management and offroad 4X4 training in Colombia (9 NSs).
Volunteering & Youth Development • Training of young leaders in Solferino and Castiglione with 16 volunteers from NSs of Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the United States, Grenada, Peru, Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia and Suriname. • Central America and Mexico Youth Network adopted a plan of action for 2018, with the NSs of Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and El Salvador. • Volunteering Regional meeting in Costa Rica, 150 participants from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. • Caribbean Red Cross Youth Network, Youth Camp & Youth Forum in Suriname with participants from St. Lucia, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent, Suriname, Haiti and Dutch OSBs (Aruba, Montserrat).
Effective international response • Total of 15 open operations in 2017 (6 DREFs, 9 Appeals), with total budget CHF 64,656,534. • 17 operations closed in 2017, with total budget of CHF 7,383,461. • Agreement with PIRAC (French Red Cross) to strengthen the response to disasters in the Caribbean. • NIT course with NSs of Honduras, Nicaragua, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Guatemala, along with ARO staff from Finance, Logistics and PMER. • Regional NIT ToT with Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Barbados, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname. • Operations coordination meetings with donors for all active operations.
Influence others as leading strategic partners in humanitarian action and resilience • High-level meetings with UNASUR to sign a regional cooperation agreement and strengthen its partnership with the NSs of South America. • Signature of an MoU with the Community of the Andean Nations (CAN) and the Coordination Center for the prevention of natural disasters in Central America (CEPREDENAC) • Participation in the 10th Caribbean Conference on comprehensive disaster management (CDM). • Celebration of the 10 years of the IDRL Guidelines (New York). • 5th Regional Platform for DRR in Montreal. • Global Platform for DRR in Cancun. • North American Humanitarian Response Summit (NAHRS), Washington DC, with the NS and governments of Canada, Mexico and United States. • Regional International Humanitarian Assistance Mechanism (MIAH) conference in Lima. • Statutory Meetings in Antalya: 134 representatives of 31 NSs of the Americas.
AREAS OF FOCUS Disaster Risk Reduction • DRR International Day with 6 NSs (Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador). • Early Warning System training in Honduras with participation of 25 people from 12 NSs. • Meeting Road Map for Resilience, with 25 NS from the Americas. CHF
Livelihoods • Regional training on “Emergency and recovery livelihoods assessment” in Honduras with 13 NSs. • First PECT training in Spanish with 13 NSs (United States, Spain, Honduras, Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Chile, Guatemala).
Health • Regional workshop on TB and HIV with 14 NSs (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia).
Social Inclusion and Violence Prevention • Workshop on Sexual Gender-Based Violence and external forum with 14 NSs, IFRC and ICRC.
Migration • Global compact on Migration meeting in Puerto Vallarta with VP from Africa (Senegalese Red Cross), Regional Director of Americas, Australian Red Cross and Mexican Red Cross. • Dissemination of the Toluca Declaration on Migration in the 4 official languages of the Americas and of the Migration Plan of Action for the Americas. • Release of Migration documentary. • 3 workshops on Violence and Legal Protection of Youth Migrants were held in Central America, jointly with Terre des Hommes. CHF
Shelter • Shelter Technical Training in Spanish (Pilot in 2018). • Online Training for Collective Centres in coordination with IOM (English/Spanish). • Participation in Habitat III (Urban Agenda).
Dominican Republic.
2017 IN PICTURES
Red Cross in the Americas and the Caribbean
Health
Technology to Fight Zika: Geo-Location and Mobile Data for Ovitrap Monitoring
Ovitraps stand out among the tools used to survey mosquitoes that transmit the Zika virus, and other diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. This, due their ease of use and low cost, which enables sustainability and acceptance in communities. To this end, the Colombian Red Cross Society is currently piloting the use of ovitraps in 5 departments in the country, with participation by 100 families and installation of nearly 200 ovitraps. This initiative is part of the Community Action on Zika (CAZ) project implemented by the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, the Colombian Red Cross (CRC), Save the Children (SC) and with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Additionally, activities are implemented in coordination with national and local health authorities. “An ovitrap is basically a 12cm black containers with water and a substance to attract mosquitos. They are used as part of a participatory process with the community, since each family participates by “adopting” the ovitrap in their home and monitors it together with volunteers. This enables us to make sure that community members are the key to controlling mosquito populations.” – said Juan Carlos Alvarez, Vector Control Consultant with the IFRC. Ovitraps are designed to attract female mosquitos and create the perfect environment for them to lay eggs, creating a mosquito breeding site. Normally, this is a black container, filled with water, a grass solution and two wooden pallets. Then, the container is places in a dark area of the home and reviewed weekly for eggs and larvae. The relative precision of an ovitrap allows to monitor the virus-transmitting vectors. “Despite the simplicity of this tool, its impact can be amplified by incorporating technology”, noted Alvarez. “As one of the innovative approaches introduced by the project, the Colombian Red Cross, Medellin branch, is implementing geo-location and data management together with its ovitraps.” The volunteers who installed and monitor ovitraps in the communities of Maria Cano and Bello Oriente took pictures of each of the 20 houses where they installed the 40 ovitraps. Using the photos and location, they were able to input the information into a digital database and geo-map the location of each ovitrap. In follow-up
monitoring visits, volunteers include information on the latest sample that they have collected, including a photo of the ovitrap, the sample and record any additional comments. This information is then processed and coded by color to identify higher or lower numbers of eggs in the ovitrap. The approach combines mobile technology and ovitrap installation and monitoring ton ensure that data collected is readily available and accessible, processed and supports decision-making. The image below, for example, shows color-coded households based on the results of ovitrap monitoring and a photo of the sample collected during the last visit. “Thanks to these tools we have been able to visualize the way each household and ovitrap behaves over time and the results we are getting. We also have notes on each one, for example if there are pregnant women in the household, any suspected cases of the Zika virus, and other information. This helps us make decisions based on real information as an institution.” – said Juan Quintero, CAZ project coordinator for the Medellin branch. “We use ovitraps as one of the key components of the community-based surveillance and monitoring strategy within the CAZ project. Not only are they important in monitoring the populations of mosquitos that transmit the Zika virus, we can also get a better understand of what vector control initiatives work best in the given community.” – notes Diany Romo, Epidemiological Surveillance Consultant with the IFRC. The overall objective in using ovitraps is to significantly reduce the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the areas of intervention to prevent the transmission of the Zika virus, and other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya.
BASELINE STUDY:
Key figures
Community Action on Zika (CAZ) Project
285
KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES (KAP) Knowledge Interviewees responded that Zika virus is transmitted through:
76
.4%
Mosquito bites
11.8%
Sexual transmission
7.8%
Mother to child during pregnancy
Less than 20% of women surveyed know that the virus can be transmitted sexually
31
.7%
Head malformation
82
%
To volunteer
89
To participate in clean-up activities
77
.3%
To use condoms
Only 23% of pregnant women report receiving information on Zika during prenatal controls, while nearly 80% attend these regularly
Condoms are seen mostly as contraceptives, not as a Zika prevention measure
360
Neighborhoods surveyed
10.3%
5
Countries applied surveys:
are currently participating in community-based activities
Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua
Personal protection measures: Use mosquito nets at night
(Note: there are no indications that Zika causes death in new-borns)
Do not know
In-depth interviews
Only
34.6%
Death
There is little knowledge about Zika-related Congenital Syndrome Baseline dates: april – august 2017, data from Save the Children and IFRC
Willigness to participate in their communities: .7%
205
Practices
16.2% 33.3%
Women of reproductive age surveyed Survey takers
Attitudes They also said that Zika can generate the following in new-borns:
1,696
Preferred information channels:
15.7%
Use them during the day
45.3% 12
12.0% Use clothes to cover their legs and arms
Clean containers with stagnant water
.5%
Use condoms with their partner
76%
1
TV
2
Radio
3
Health workers
Have regular access to social media
OPERATIONS
Emergency Response During 2017, earthquakes and hurricanes were the activators of all national, regional and global response systems. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies mobilized millions of dollars in support of affected families in the Americas, demonstrating the ability to respond at all levels and the unconditional support of millions of volunteers who have worked tirelessly in each of the countries of the region.
Disasters and crises in 2017 in the Americas Floods in Peru, Guatemala, Brazil, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras and Argentina. Yellow fever in Brazil Fires in Chile, Canada and the USA. Earthquakes in Guatemala and Mexico. Landslide in Colombia and Argentina. 10 Hurricanes and 17 Tropical Storms. Demonstrations in Venezuela, Guatemala and Honduras. Population movement in Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, Colombia and Venezuela.
KEY DATA 2017 • 21 emergency operations received funding from the IFRC • + 200,000 people attended • CHF 22,396,651 authorized to respond to emergencies and crises in 2017 • 95% coverage of Emergency Appeals • 695 tons of humanitarian aid were mobilized to 21 countries • 53 RIT, 5 ERU, 2 HeOps and 18 FACT from 20 different NS were mobilized
assistance provided • 117,500 people received assistance in shelter. • 34,000 people received emergency health services, first aid and training. • 65,000 people received assistance in water, sanitation and hygiene promotion. • 6,379 people received support for the restoration and protection of their livelihoods.
• 49,000 people included with risk reduction activities in emergency operations. • 16,000 people received cash for their home economic security. • 28,000 people received psychosocial support.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: 2017 in Review // January 2018
HURRICANES AND STORMS August, September and October brought great devastation due to hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate striking heavily-populated areas. More than 10 countries and territories were directly affected in the Caribbean, coastal states in the United States and Central AmĂŠrica. Impact has varied among these countries, but some damages include: flooded homes, lack of drinking water and electrical services, massive destruction of plantations and crops, risks associated with mosquito-borne and water-borne diseases, collapsed structures, public safety issues, millions of evacuees in shelters and more than three dozen deaths. The IFRC is coordinating with National Societies in each country and territory to support affected communities, first in the inmediate response to the emergency and later to start the recovery and help people rebuild their lives.
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Dominica, Roseau, 26 Sep 2017. Hurricane Maria International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies effected also the capital of Dominica, Roseau. The Voices of America • Special: 2017 in Review // January 2018 main river flooded flooded and water level did rise sholder high in some parts of the downtown. Flood water filled homes and businesses with mud, sand, wood and debris. The people living in the city are doing their best with cleaning but the work will last for long. Photo: Nina Svahn / Finnish Red Cross
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HURRICANE HARVEY Harvey made landfall on the evening of August 25 causing major damage primarily from widespread flooding in the Houston metropolitan area. It was the nation’s first major (Category 3 or stronger) hurricane landfall since Hurricane Wilma struck South Florida in October 2005, an almost 12-year run. The American Red Cross worked around the clock to inmediatly provide safe shelter and comfort for the hundreds of thousands of people impacted by this disaster and is continuing to support thousands to recover. Pictures by the American Red Cross
HURRICANEs IRMA AND MARIA Hurricane Irma was an extremely powerful and catastrophic Category 5 hurricane. On September 6, Hurricane Irma left a string of small Caribbean islands devastated. The eye of the hurricane passed over Barbuda, damaging about 95% of the buildings on the island. Irma caused widespread and catastrophic damage, particularly in parts of the northeastern Caribbean and the Florida Keys. Two weeks later, Hurricane Maria, another category 5 hurricane, folowed a similar path, compounding recovery efforts in islands already struck by Hurricane Irma. Hurricane Maria is regarded as the worst disaster on record in Dominica and caused catastrophic damage and a major humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico. 22
HURRICANE IRMA RESPONSE ANTIGUA & BARBUDA AND SAINT KITTS & NEVIS
EMERGENCY APPEAL BUDGET: CHF
2,635,276 Medical equipment
HEALTH
WASH
SHELTER
consultation and emergency room handed over to the Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Health.
Covered
35 children reached and 17 volunteers trained in child resilience program. 12 women reached through Women’s support groups
600
COMPLETED DISTRIBUTIONS
Households to be reached: 400 in Antigua and Barbuda; 200 in Saint Kitts and Nevis
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
12 Antigua
and Barbuda RC volunteers trained in Psychosocial Support in Emergencies and 10 trained in Psychological First Aid.
476
636
481
Households in Antigua and Barbuda received hygiene kits.
hygiene kits distributed
Households in Antigua & Barbuda received bottled water.
10
430
Antigua and Barbuda RC volunteers received Emergency Shelter Kit /Shelter box tents SHELTER training.
Households in Antigua & Barbuda have received cash cards with a cash value of USD 136,641
LIVELIHOODS
TarpaulinS
48
Mosquito nets
146 400
Kitchen sets
Jerry cans
522 249
SOLAR LIGHTS
309
SHELTER KITS
97 95
Hygiene kits
water filters Cases of water Each case contains 24 bottles of water
900
TENTS are shelterbox tents, that ABRC support the distribution and set up
42
saint kitts and nevis
blankets
346 130
Hygiene kits
114
Jerry cans
70
TarpaulinS
November, 2017 |
Antigua & Barbuda
Health worries rise as evacuees plan return
October, 2017 | “When our boat pulled up to the shore, you could already tell that the island was devastated,” says Laura Archer, a Canadian Red Cross health specialist deployed to the hurricane-affected island of Barbuda. “Trees were down, power lines were down, most buildings were missing their roofs, if not completely flattened. The hospital structure is very damaged as well, there is stagnant water all over the place, so there are many things that need to be addressed right away in terms of health.” Archer travelled to Barbuda at the begining of the operation as part of a specialist team deployed by the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross’ disaster response efforts. “The immediate health needs on Barbuda were focused on the people who are working there to bring Barbudans back,” she said. “A lot of environmental health teams were coming back to the island and cleaning up the debris, stagnant water and bringing back the essential services. While these people are there, we need to make sure that they have access to a basic level of health care.” Emergency room The Canadian Red Cross, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, delivered and set up a pop-up emergency room that can serve two patients at a time and has the necessary basics such as medicine, gauze, resuscitation equipment, and other tools. In addition, Red Cross volunteers are delivering first aid services in shelters, during relief distributions and other activities that take place on the island. Psychosocial support services will also be provided to people affected by the hurricane, including evacuees from Barbuda and host families. “In terms of long-term health needs on Barbuda, it’s a lot about bringing back the health programmes that already existed to support the people who will return to the island and make sure that they are going back to a safe community,” adds Archer.
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Celia receives a tarpaulin from Red Cross volunteers. On 18 September, in preparation for the hurricane, Red Cross volunteers delivered around 30 tarpaulins to most vulnerable families on the island, to help them keep dry during the storm. Photo: Giovanni Zambello/IFRC
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Haiti
Families in Haiti are still in need of assistance
November, 2017 | Months after the passage of Hurricane Irma, which mostly hit the northern part of Haiti, many families still face challenges in meeting their critical daily needs. While the human toll and damage was limited, the consequences are no less for the affected communities. Many families were stripped of everything because of the floods. “I lost everything. I have nothing left” said a disillusioned Nelta Joachin, a resident of Malfety, the hardest-hit community in the Fort-Liberté area, with about 350 houses flooded. “Despite everything, the Red Cross kits have been very helpful,” she admits. Like other mothers from affected families in the North, Nelta has benefited from some relief items distributed by the Red Cross in the days following the disaster. “Right now, the needs are so great that people are rushing to the smallest distribution of any kind. You should have seen the incredible crowd that recently generated a distribution of small doses of detergent” notice some representatives of the Northern regional branch of the Haitian Red Cross. The Haitian Red Cross, with the support of by partners such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the German Red Cross and the American Red Cross, assisted the affected families with food kits, kitchen kits and hygiene kits. This assistance, as useful and necessary it may have been, unfortunately proves to be insufficient to help the recovery of the communities.
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Decapitalized and indebted families “People are currently in real need because they have lost everything – their gardens, belongings, their animals and other livelihoods. They did not have time to save anything, ” says Evelyne Limprevil, member of the Malfety Communal Section Board of Directors (CASEC). “The water had risen to almost two meters and took everything away, even the savings that the families kept in their houses” remembers Florestal Michelangelo, President of the Northern Regional branch of the Haitian Red Cross, which covers 17 local branches. “We are even more indebted because of loans previously taken,” lament some women, who make their family incomes from the raising of goats and hogs and from small food businesses financed through loans taken from microfinance organizations. Without insurance coverage to revive their businesses destroyed by floods, these families, at the initiative of women, are forced to take out new loans hoping to repay the previous ones. “I feel like I’m going to lose my head because there are so many problems,” says Evna Monceus, a resident of Malfety. Irma hit these areas in the back-to-school week, when most parents are still struggling to find ways to pay the entrance fees and buy the necessary supplies for their children. The loss of school materials already purchased added to the anguish of these families who have already lost everything and no longer know which way to turn.
The anxiety of cholera and new floods Increased debt is not the only anxiety that accompanies the daily lives of families in the north. “The threat of cholera is constant because of the flooded latrines,” says Virline Romain, President of the regional branch of the North-East of the Haitian Red Cross, and a nurse by training. “People need hygiene kits not only because of cholera but also because of other waterborne diseases. People died because of skin diseases following Irma, “she adds. In addition, most of the affected areas are flood-prone areas. The inhabitants live in the anguish of new floods with each rainfall and are ready to reach the heights. The residents are unanimous in recommending that the authorities solve the flood problems in most of these northern areas “to prevent them from suffering the same fate as Gonaïves in 2004”. Still, they recognize in the Red Cross “an organization always present at their side in difficult times”.
HURRICANE MARIA RESPONSE DOMINICA Since the onset of the emergency, the Dominica Red Cross Society, with the support of the IFRC has been working to provide essential humanitarian support to people affected. The support includes distribution of non-food items including shelter material, provision of
safe water and hygiene items and Restoring Family Link services and cash transfer programme activities. During the entire response process, the capacity to respond to disasters of the National Society has significantly been strengthened.
EMERGENCY APPEAL BUDGET: CHF
5,322,737
Covered
5,000 households
15,000
People to be reached
540,000
2,771
liters of water have been provided to 1,498 households.
households have received hygiene items including hygiene kits, jerry cans and buckets.
WASH
COMPLETED DISTRIBUTIONS As of - 15 Jan. 2018
4,851
reached households
4,246 SHELTER
households have received shelter items including tarpaulins, tool kits and wood along with training and installation support.
554 LIVELIHOODS
housholds have received pre-paid cards in the amount of USD 450 to support immediate needs.
8,493 TOOLKITS 928 WOOD 1,033 TARPAULINS
5,933 MOSQUITO NETS 4,373 KITCHEN SETS 2,039 HYGIENE KITS 1,558 JERRY CANS 5,543 BUCKETS 1,897 FOOD PARCELS 182 ASSORTED ITEMS 274 BLANKETS
cash cards
554
15 January, 2017 |
Dominica, 30 Sep 2017. Joan Barnes, 48yrs: “it was diffucult and devastating, we could not sleep for a couple of days�. The village of Layou, home to 90 families, was badly destroyed along with rest of Dominica when hurricane Maria struck. Photo: Nina Svahn / Finnish Red Cross
Dominica
Determined to rebuild after surviving ‘hell’ in Dominica
October, 2017 | Moses Lewis is busy shoveling mud and debris out of his small bakery in the Dominican capital, Roseau. “My grandmother always told me: ‘don’t wait for handouts – you have to work for what you want’. That’s what I’m doing, getting my hands dirty,” he says. When Hurricane Maria struck Dominica with ferocious winds and rain, the central river of the island overflowed and water and mud rushed into buildings in the capital. Lewis’s small pale blue bakery was inundated with mud. “When I came here, I just couldn’t believe the damage in Roseau,” he says. “Imagine water waist-high, and it has brought down all the debris with it. It was terrible.” Despite everything, the 58-year-old is working hard to rebuild his life, and get his bakery up and running again as quickly as possible. Many people have been asking him for bread and he doesn’t want to let them down.
Starting again with nothing
The traumatic night when hurricane Maria barreled down on Dominica is still fresh in Lewis’ mind. He took shelter with his family at home and they all survived the storm, but it was a terrifying experience. “You don’t want to experience that. Imagine seeing your roof going up and down, and all of a sudden it’s not there. Then water starts pouring in,” he says. “That part was hell. You could say that somebody has a needle and is pricking your skin, because the wind is so strong. And you could see trees just blowing away – the leaves, the branches, just blowing away.”
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Lewis is determined to get his bakery up and running to be able to provide for his family but also to give his customers what they want – his famous pegassi, a small loaf of bread.
Strength to go ahead
“One day things will work out. It’s like you’re starting back with nothing and hoping that you’ll get somewhere. Maybe some people give up along the way but I think I have the strength to go ahead – to live life and see what happens,” says Lewis. Eventually, in the next five years, Lewis hopes to retire and move to the farm he owns in central Dominica. All his crops were destroyed, but if he replants soon he could be able to grow everything he needs to survive and live on the land. But until then, a lot of hard work will be required. “You have to put your shoulder to the wheel and say: I’ve got to do it. If you want to make it, nobody can do it for you but yourself.”
Watch video 31
Puerto Rico
Many Still Without Basic Necessities
November, 2017 | Almost two months after Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico, residents are still dealing with a lack of water and electricity and the struggle to find food. These seem to be the only topics on people’s minds anywhere you go in Puerto Rico right now. Despite some improvement in urban areas, lack of water, electricity and food is a major problem for hundreds of thousands of families. Recently, Red Cross workers visited Barrio Florida in the San Lorenzo municipality. The rain that fell was not a surprise. A dark gray sky threatened from early in the day. A multitude of colored umbrellas opened while Red Cross volunteers unloaded relief boxes. As raindrops began hitting the legs of people standing in line, conversations seemed to revolve around the same topics: water, electricity and food. “Today there is no water or electricity in our neighborhood,” commented a woman dressed in black, her hair tied in a bun. “We haven’t had any electricity since the hurricane. Water comes and goes. “ “It’s your namesake’s fault,” her friends scoffed, referring to Hurricane Maria. Maria Marrero, the woman in black, is used to that joke. The rain was a blessing for her that day. She would be able to refill her gallon jug with the precious liquid. “When the water goes out”, she explained, “we have to go to town with our buckets.” While waiting in line to receive supplies from the Red Cross, Barrio Florida residents shared their difficulties openly and light-heartedly, using humor to cope with the magnitude of the disaster. Shy at first, a little girl stepped forward: “My school is closed, because there is no electricity. The hurricane also blew away our water tank, so I have to go out and search for water with my mother.” When asked where she goes to look for water, the girl’s mother intervened, “Wherever we can!” 32
“I have a nine-month-old baby, water is difficult to find,” confirmed Charon González, another resident. “One of my neighbors fills drums from a spring.” Maria recalled the Red Cross had visited them earlier with water filters. “They worked”, she said. “The water that comes out from the filters comes out much clearer than that of the drums!”. “Yes”, added Cecilia Como, a radiant lady next to her. “The Red Cross filters were a success!” The little girl added, “Before the hurricane, my mom used to wash clothes in the washing machine, now I have to help her wash them by hand.” “The hardest to wash are blue jeans!” exclaimed Maria Marrero. Her friends burst out laughing and agreed. As the rain stopped, the conversation about laundry became livelier. “Look at my fingers!” said a lady, showing how the water and bleach had worn out her fingers. “All the beautiful drawings on my nails from my manicure are gone”, added Cecilia Como, who went on to explain, in her own words, the method used in her community to wash clothes. “We use that ‘thing’ they use to flush the toilet to wash the laundry; we buy new ones of course. Then we disinfected the clothes with bleach and we put them in an industrial mopping bucket, but instead of rinsing the mop, we press the lever and rinse the clothes! See what we had to invent!” Since the historic blackout caused by Hurricane Maria, washing clothes by hand has become everybody’s job, including men. “Sure I help my wife, how could I leave her alone with that. Everyone has to pitch in!” said Don Miguel, who came with his son to collect the water and food offered by the Red Cross. Then he added mischievously. “The water is very useful, am I entitled to a double ration for helping my wife wash clothes?” The Red Cross made a second stop in the Tacho Gómez neighborhood. The views are impressive. But there too the residents are finding it difficult to cover their basic needs. Don Jesus approached the truck on a motorized wheelchair: “I live with my daughter. She is the one who takes care of me. [Before the hurricane] We couldn’t manage to put boards over the windows to protect our house. She couldn’t lift them.” A feeling of helplessness overtook him as he lowered his head and looked at his wheelchair. “It is difficult for me to get ice to keep our food fresh, we have to wait in long lines. But what I need most is a generator to charge my wheelchair. We do not have a car and without my wheelchair, I cannot go anywhere. “ “We are getting tap water here on and off, but we can’t drink it,” said Rosa Perez, a friendly and smiling greatgrandmother, as a Red Cross volunteer carried her supplies up the road. Doña Rosa is living with her sister since the hurricane damaged the roof on her house. “When it comes, we only use the tap water to bathe and wash the laundry. But we can use the Red Cross water to drink and cook. “ “If I could choose the type of relief aid, what would I choose?” She paused for a moment to think. “Well, I would choose what the Red Cross is giving me, everything is good!” But what Doña Rosa appreciated the most was the food offered by the Red Cross. “I can share it with my sister, we are both widows and we live alone. The price of food has increased a lot!” Other residents had complained that the price of rice had gone up four times and vegetables were now out of reach for many. Not far from the truck, she showed us what was left of their garden, a pile of trees and plants laid waste on the ground. “There used to be breadfruit, bananas, mangoes, avocados, guavas. Little cilantro and sweet chili plants. The storm took them all away. There is nothing left, nothing.” Doña Rosa remained pensive. “My mother used to tell me that when she was pregnant, they prepared mojito for her with the water from vegetables crushed with garlic and cilantro, and a dash of oil. We have gone back to those times, when there was no light; there was no water; there was no food. Like when I was born, during the war. “
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Puerto Rico
When a photo reunites a family
November, 2017 | “I hope help comes because I don’t want to go. I want to die here in Puerto Rico,” reflects Ernesto Velasquez Perez, 76, of Daguao, Naguabo, to the Red Cross workers. Like many elderly people in Puerto Rico, being urged by children in the United States to leave the island territory and come to the mainland. Ernesto believes if he leaves the island, he will never return. “What choice do I have? You just have to move forward as best you can,” he said. “I have not spoken with my daughter in Florida since before the storm,” Perez admitted in response to the Red Cross worker’s questions. His cell phone has not worked since Hurricane Maria got it wet. Without any cell service in the area, he wouldn’t be able to call her anyway. The Red Cross workers got a charging brick from the car and plugged in his phone. Within a minute, it lit up. A Red Cross volunteer gave him a hand crank charger and trained him to use it. “It’s the same as grinding coffee back in the day,” joked 62 year-old Angel Ramos, a Puerto Rico Red Cross volunteer and veteran of the wars in Viet Nam and Iraq. “The exercise will do you good and lift your spirits,” Angel told him, adding the charging brick can take the phone to a full charge in about half an hour. The team visiting Ernesto is a Red Cross reunification team. Red Cross reunification teams have been combing the island looking for the family members of nearly 1,500 people who called the Red Cross to say they couldn’t get in touch with their loved ones. Many of these so-called “Emergency Welfare Inquiries” came from adult children in the mainland US unable to reach their elderly parents. Knowing how important that personal connection is, the team offered to send Ernesto’s daughter in Florida a photo of him holding a message for her. They gave him a pen and a whiteboard and he asked one of the volunteers to write for him. Ernes dictated, “Dear Yamilka, I am alive,” and broke down in tears. The Red Cross volunteers sat with him until he pulled himself together, then wrote down the rest of the message and took a picture of Perez holding it to send to his daughter. The next day, the daughter responded to the Red Cross thanking her for sending her father’s photo. Ernesto is one of the more than 11,500 families that have been reunited through the “Save and Well” program of the American Red Cross after Hurricane Maria affected Puerto Rico. To learn more about the response work of the Red Cross on the island, you can access www.cruzrojapr.net. 34
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: 2017 in Review // January 2018
September 24, 2017. Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Red Cross volunteers distribute water, blankets, diapers and other basic necessities to families affected by Hurricane Maria. Photo: Luis Rivera / American Red Cross 35
HURRICANE NATE Hurricane Nate was a large and unusually fast-moving tropical cyclone that caused widespread destruction and casualties in Central America during early October 2017, before making landfall on the US Gulf Coast. The six countries of Central America and Colombia were in state of national alert by the floods. Nate, strongly hit Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras, where it has left multiple families affected, several people killed, injured and some others disappeared due to river overflows and landslides among other recorded incidents. Pictures by the Costa Rican Red Cross
The Red Cross is activated throughout the region October, 2017 | The Costa Rican Red Cross requested its 121 auxiliary committees throughout the country to activate all institutional response mechanisms to address the needs of communities affected by heavy rains and floods in several areas of the country. The Nicaraguan Red Cross (CRN) activated its Emergency Operations Centers (COE) and had 500 volunteers deployed throughout the country to assist the population affected by the floods occurred due to the passage of tropical storm Nate on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua. “We monitored Nate since the beginning, our regional teams, despite serving the countries affected by the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria, were ready. We activated the entire regional network to provide the support required by National Societies affected by Nate. This network that reaches from Canada to Argentina was committed, prepared and alert to respond to the request of our Red Crosses of Central America�, said Walter Cotte, Americas Regional Director of the IFRC.
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: 2017 in Review // January 2018
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: 2017 in Review // January 2018
Peru: Communities still suffering after coastal El Niño crisis
October, 2017 | According to the statistics the phenomenon “El Niño Costero” affected 1.7 million people in 24 departments of Peru, hitting the north and centre coastal areas the hardest. Due to heavy rains, storms and hail the regions of Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Ancash, Lima and Ica are still facing emergency challenges. The National Civil Protection Institute of Peru estimates that 159 people have died and 18 are still missing. Nearly 403,000 houses collapsed and are uninhabitable or damaged. Some 19,212 people are living in tents or shelters, and 3,222 schools and 998 health centres were destroyed. Since the crisis began, the Peruvian Red Cross has successfully provided humanitarian help to the people affected, through relief distributions, and provision of water, sanitation and hygiene support. Psychosocial support has played an important role since the beginning of the emergency operation. The 400 volunteers of the Peruvian Red Cross who participated in the emergency were essential for an effective response. The National Society was supported by the International Federation of red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the ICRC, and sister National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from around the world. The crisis began in January 2017, when heavy rains began and river water overflow caused flooding that devastated houses, crops and the animals that families relied on for their livelihoods. People living in the remote and isolated community of Malingas, in Tambogrande district, were immediately evacuated when the storms hit, but they returned to find that their crops and their livelihoods had been destroyed by the flooding. Mrs Beatriz, her husband and her three children were evacuated by helicopter during the emergency, alongside other Tambogrande district families, after the Piura River broke its banks and prevented access or escape over land. They returned to find their home badly damaged, their possessions and crops destroyed, and their livestock drowned. Now all they have is a small orchard where basic products grow for their everyday food and feeds their entire family. However, Mrs. Beatriz and her family are being supported by a Peruvian Red Cross programme, which builds temporary housing modules with the help of community members, and helps to improve their resilience. The local government has forbidden the community to rebuild houses in areas of high risk, to reduce their vulnerability to future flooding. 38
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: 2017 in Review // January 2018
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EARTHQUAKES IN MEXICO A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Central Mexico on 19 September 2017. Its epicenter was about 55 km (34 mi) south of the city of Puebla. The earthquake caused damage in the Mexican states of Puebla and Morelos and in the Greater Mexico City area, including the collapse of more than 40 buildings. 370 people were killed by the earthquake and related building collapses, and more than 6,000 were injured. The quake coincidentally occurred on the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, which killed around 10,000 people. Twelve days earlier, an even larger 8.2 magnitude eaqrthquake struck 650 km (400 mi) away, off the coast of the state of Chiapas.
Red Cross Response
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: 2017 in Review // January 2018
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communication Video
COSTA RICA RED CROSS (in spanish) Ivannia Prado - Historia de Vida (Hurricane Nate)
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José Portugués - Historia de Vida (Hurarricane Nate)
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Contact information
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Americas Regional Office Diana Medina, Communications Manager | diana.medina@ifrc.org Diana Arroyo, Senior Communications Officer | diana.arroyo@ifrc.org
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