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Cook Islands

Cook Islands: Dengue outbreak DREF operation No. MDRCK001

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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 50,000 (USD 44,929 or EUR 33,053) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Cook Islands Red Cross Society in delivering immediate assistance to approximately 8,000 beneficiaries through direct services and information, education and communication materials. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Summary:

The Cook Islands is experiencing a dengue outbreak, with up to 994 cases reported on the main island of Rarotonga as of 20 May 2009. The Cook Islands Red Cross Society, in coordination with government and non-government agencies in-country, are responding to the threat with an increase in awareness-raising in identified communities as well as through the National Society's current community-based health and first aid programme. The International Federation has released CHF 50,000 from the disaster relief emergency fund to support the National Society in responding to the outbreak. With these funds, the National Society plans to procure and distribute vector control kits to affected communities as well as disseminate information, education and communication materials to the public.

This operation is expected to be implemented over four months, and will therefore be completed by August 2009. A Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation, by November 2009.

The following donors and partners support DREF: Danish Red Cross, Irish Red Cross/ Irish government, Japanese Red Cross, Monaco Red Cross/ Monaco government, Netherlands Red Cross/ Netherlands government, Norwegian Red Cross/ Norwegian government, Swedish Red Cross/ Swedish government, Italian government, United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), OPEC Fund for International Development, and corporate and private donors.

The International Federation, on behalf of the Cook Islands Red Cross Society, would like to thank all donors and partners for their generous support to DREF.

Map: Cook Islands: Dengue (as of 21 May 2009)