GLIDE n° EP-2009-000021-CMR
The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.
CHF 203,419 (USD 201,584 or EUR 134,305) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Cameroon Red Cross National Society in delivering immediate assistance to some 800,000 beneficiaries. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
Summary: The North and Far North regions of Cameroon are currently hit by a cholera outbreak, the first cases of which were registered in September 2009. Taking into consideration the rapid spread of the epidemics, the high lethality rate and the high population density per km2 in the affected regions, Cameroon Red Cross supported by the International Federation's Central Africa Regional Representation (CARREP) has seen the need for immediate response. Red Cross volunteers are already carrying out sensitization activities in the field to help stop the spread of the epidemics. The National Society intends to assist the Ministry of Public Health by conducting social mobilization, including the sensitization of the populations, individual and collective hygiene promotion, and water disinfection as a contribution to the eradication of the epidemics. This DREF operation is therefore requested to support the National Society in carrying out all these activities that will benefit an estimated 3,838,292 inhabitants of the North and Far North regions of Cameroon exposed to the disease.
This operation is expected to be implemented over three months, and will therefore be completed by January, 2010; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by March, 2010).
