Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Timor-Leste + 3 more

WHO's unique health emergency fund gets a boost from Timor-Leste

Dili, 8 September 2009: Timor-Leste, the South-East Asia Region's youngest nation, has announced that it will make a contribution to the World Health Organization s (WHO) unique million-dollar health emergency fund, whose fast and flexible disbursement mechanism has already allowed it to make a difference to more than 200 000 people affected by various humanitarian crises in the Region.

Timor-Leste s contribution of US$10, 000 to the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) will add to the fund's pool of US$1 million provided by the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia.

"From our history, we have seen the difference that prompt support can make to the lives of the people in humanitarian situations. That is why, today, we would like to give something back to support health in emergencies," said Timor-Leste s Minister of Health, Dr Nelson Martins, currently in Kathmandu, Nepal, attending the annual South-East Asian Region s Health Ministers Meeting.

He added It is a unique and important Fund that has already, since its inception, made a difference to the lives of those suffering humanitarian situations, in less than two years, since it was first used during Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar in May 2008. We hope that it will continue to make a difference in emergencies in the Region."

Dr Paramita Sudharto, WHO representative to Timor-Leste said, "We are happy to receive this contribution from the Government of Timor-Leste. This shows that Timor-Leste is committed to global issues."

In a disaster, speedy assistance can make all the difference between life and death. Yet most emergency funding takes days to arrive. The South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund was launched in 2007 to bridge this gap. Its goal is to provide funds within 24 hours of a request from the Government following an emergency.

SEARHEF was first used following Cyclone Nargis which claimed over 130 000 lives in Myanmar in 2008. It has since been used to provide critical health needs in a number of emergencies, including the Kosi river floods in Nepal in 2008, and most recently, in the conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) separatist group which ended in May 2009.

For more information contact:

Shima Roy, Communications Officer, WHO Timor"Leste, Email: roysh@searo.who.int

Mobile: +670" 7540321 or Dr Roderico Ofrin, Regional Adviser, Emergency and Humanitarian Action, WHO Regional office for South"East Asia, Email: ofrinr@searo.who.int

SEARHF background

The South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund: Making a difference with speedy assistance

Cyclones, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes -- the South-East Asia Region regularly faces some of the world's worst natural disasters, which often leave hundreds of thousands of people devastated. Speedy assistance can make all the difference to their survival, yet most emergency funding arrives a few days or even weeks after the disaster.

The South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF), established in 2007, is intended to bridge this gap.

Several features make this fund unique. The first is the simplicity of application - a request in writing, even through email, from the government or from the WHO representative of the disaster-affected country. The second feature is the speed of disbursement - although the sums are modest compared to other funds, with a maximum allotment of US$ 350 000, the first tranche is usually released within 24 hours of receiving the request.

SEARHEF was first used to provide vital life-saving medicines and supplies following Cyclone Nargis in May 2008. It has subsequently been used in a number of emergencies, large and small, making a difference to hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable disaster-affected people in the Region.

Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar, May 2008

On 2-3 May 2008, Cyclone Nargis rampaged through 47 townships of the Ayeyarwady and Yangon districts of Myanmar, with winds upto 160 kilometres per hour and 15 hours of continuous lashing rain. The cyclone blew away houses, and ripped off roofs - including those of some health centres, rendering many non-functional just when their services were most needed. The main sources of fresh water were contaminated by sea water that surged inland. Stagnant pools of water, ideal for breeding mosquitoes, added to the risk of malaria and dengue. The storm left more than 130 000 dead or missing and 19 350 injured according to official figures -one of the worst natural disasters in the Region.

At the request of the WHO representative to Myanmar, US$ 350 000 was disbursed for this emergency, the first US$ 175 000 being sent within 24 hours. This enabled WHO and the Myanmar Ministry of Health to acquire essential medicines and equipment to treat the sick and injured. Chlorine tablets and bleach were bought to purify water. Fogging machines and insecticide-treated bednets helped in protecting the affected people from vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. SEARHEF thus covered the Myanmar Ministry of Health's needs for the affected population weeks ahead of the bulk funding mechanisms of the United Nations, such as the Flash Appeal and Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF).

Flash floods, Sri Lanka, June 2008

On 2 June 2008, heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods in southwest Sri Lanka. The water swept over five districts (Kalutara, Ratnapura, Colombo, Galle and Gampaha), killing 16 and affecting 173 778, according to official estimates. Landslides further added to the emergency. Immediately after the disaster, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health and Nutrition requested 2 500 000LKR (around US $ 23 500) from WHO.

The challenge in this emergency was to prevent these health issues - the risk of water-borne diseases, dengue and malaria, for example -- from spiraling out of control. That is where SEARHEF funds made a difference.

Funds were used to purchase basic drugs and chemicals to treat the wounded and sick, and to procure food for volunteers and the displaced alike. Disinfectants were bought and wells were cleaned. Disease surveillance systems were set up quickly to prevent any outbreaks. SEARHEF played a vital role in funding health education activities to make the public aware of the potential dangers and how they can be prevented. Leaflets, posters and banners were used to communicate these messages. As a result, no disease outbreaks were reported.

Conflict in northern Sri Lanka, September 2008/February 2009

More than two decades of conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) separatist group resulted in more than 65 000 deaths, according to humanitarian agencies. As the conflict escalated in September 2008, thousands more were displaced. By February 2009, as the Sri Lankan military forces made further inroads into LTTE-dominated territory, the number of displaced people in welfare camps exceeded 150 000. Physically and mentally shattered by the war, they needed urgent medical attention.

Twice the Government of Sri Lanka requested funds to provide healthcare to those affected during the period of the conflict -in September 2008, and again in February 2009.

Doctors, nurses and other health staff were urgently needed to cope with the health requirements of more than 150 000 displaced people. SEARHEF helped to provide the budget for salaries and accommodation for health staff at hospitals and mobile clinics. In three districts, the funds helped build semi-permanent wards and emergency medical care units. Facilities at other hospitals were also scaled up. WHO supported training for building a mental health workforce at the community level. SEARHEF funds have allowed this to continue. Bandages, antibiotics, emergency medical kits and surgical kits were urgently needed to treat the wounded and sick. As camps got increasingly crowded, chlorine tablets were needed to ensure clean water. Overcrowded hospitals needed equipment from catheters to mattresses. SEARHEF helped provide medical supplies quickly so that more lives could be saved.

Koshi River floods, Nepal, September 2008

On 18 August, the furious waters of the Koshi river, fed by heavy monsoon rains, burst through the eastern retaining wall of an embankment about 10 kilometres north of the Koshi barrage. The wall of water that gushed out totally inundated Shreepurjavdi and Shreeharipur, and portions of Lohaki and Kusahapaschim in Sunsari District. Thirty four people died, and 49 000 were displaced. One sub-health post was completely destroyed, and two others suffered partial damage.

On the request of the WHO Representative to Nepal, US$ 325 000 was allocated for the emergency from SEARHEF.

With these funds, essential drugs and supplies were speedily procured and distributed to ensure the health of the people, and prevent outbreaks. Rapid assessment of the situation were done to understand the impact of the flood and the gaps that had to be filled for health care response. The supplies and drugs were provided to rapid response teams that were mobilized by the Ministry of Public Health to provide essential health care services to the displaced population. Ten mobile clinics were initiated.

Providing assistance to people with different needs in different emergencies, SEARHEF has shown that speedy assistance during an emergency can make a significant different to the lives of the people.