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Humanitarian update – July 2007
During the last month DFID has announced new funding in response to the heavy rains and flooding in south Asia: £2 million for relief efforts and co-ordination in Pakistan.
DFID continues to provide direct, and through NGOs and other relief agencies indirect, support to more than 25 humanitarian situations around the world.
Regions/countries with ongoing DFID humanitarian involvement
Glossary
Regions/countries with ongoing DFID humanitarian involvement
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Country/region |
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Situation |
Following the severe storms and a cyclone in south Asia during the last three weeks, there has been extensive flooding affecting several million people across the region. Reports put the death toll at more than 300 in India, 246 in Pakistan and 63 in Afghanistan. In Pakistan there are estimates that more than 200,000 have been made homeless and 2 million people affected in total. Relief operations are under way in all three countries and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) has launched an appeal, with a UN flash appeal expected soon. In India the states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerela, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Orissa have been affected. Andhra Pradesh was most affected with more than 200,000 people left homeless. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
Since 23 June: storms, a cyclone and continuing heavy rain have killed 246 in Balochistan, Sindh and North West Frontier Provinces and Karachi District. Flooding has also caused significant damage to homes and livelihoods. 1.5 million affected, particularly with loss of crops, livestock and livelihoods. More than 200,000 made homeless.By 26 June tropical cyclone Yemyin had struck Baluchistan and Sindh provinces, and further rain systems added to the flooding. |
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DFID response |
DFID has announced an initial up to £2m to support the relief effort, including £500,000 to the IFRC. On 2 July, DFID sent a 2 person assessment team, which has spent time in Islamabad and Karachi. 2 UK UNDAC members were also deployed as part of a 5-person team on 4 July. The Pakistani authorities have not formally requested international assistance but are accepting offers. UN, IFRC and NGOs are active and the cluster system has been established to coordinate the response. Delivery of assistance to beneficiaries is so far limited due to very poor access. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
4.1 million people in need of assistance in Darfur; including two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Additional three million people in need of assistance across rest of Sudan. 150,000 people newly displaced across Darfur since the start of 2007. |
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DFID response |
Total allocation in 2007/08 so far is £56 million:
In addition, continued lobbying of Government to live up to its commitments e.g. implementation of the Joint Communiqué. |
Country/region |
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Situation |
Floods in Zambezia Province displaced an estimated 163,000 people in February – March 2007. A further 134,000 people were affected by cyclone Favio, which hit the coast on 22 February. |
DFID response |
DFID’s immediate contribution totals £1,590,000 to support ongoing flood relief and cyclone related operations and the government’s recovery effort. |
Country/region |
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Situation |
Guinea hosts 31,000 refugees (from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire). Monthly food distributions to camps delayed but now resumed. Voluntary repatriation of Liberian refugees continuing up until July 2007. Extreme poverty levels, high vulnerability and the potential for further political and social instability remain a real concern. |
DFID response |
DFID allocated £750,000 for 2006 with a further £750,000 foreseen for 2007/08 to support protection, nutrition, refugee and health activities. In response to recent crisis an additional £350,000 granted to ICRC towards their humanitarian and protection work, plus £270,000 to the Regional WFP Air Service. Africa Conflict Prevention Pool funding of £500,000 over three years will support emerging democratic governance by working closely with civil society. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
Over 235,000 Darfur refugees in Eastern Chad and 140,000 IDPs. 45,000 refugees from Central African Republic in Southern Chad. |
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DFID response |
Initial allocation of £5m in 2007/08, up by £1m from last year, to support UNHCR, WFP, OCHA, ICRC and Oxfam. A further £1.5m just approved from African Humanitarian Reserve to support the start-up costs of new agencies. DFID will also support the deployment of three Humanitarian Affairs Officers and one Information Officer for OCHA. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
UN and Government of Kenya estimate 2.3 million people are food insecure, mainly in the north and east, because of drought and floods. Acute malnutrition present in many areas. 73,000 severely or moderately acutely malnourished. 48,000 in feeding programmes. Mount Elgon inter-ethnic conflict has resulted in 60,000 IDPs, 6,000 refugees in Uganda and 150 dead. At least 3,000-4,000 Somali asylum seekers remain blocked from entering Kenya in contravention of Kenyan and International Law and commitments. Acute malnutrition present among 172,000 Somali refugees in camps in Kenya. |
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DFID response |
Response to food insecurity and to flooding was £16.5m in 2005/06.
Financial year 06/07 DFID provided £2.4m to UNICEF emergency health nutrition and education services in northern Kenya and Mount Elgon – March 2007. DFID’s humanitarian allocation for 2007/08 is £5m. New assistance for emergency feeding programmes operated by ACF and MERLIN has recently been agreed. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
The UN estimated at the beginning of the year that 1.8 million people, including 400,000 IDPs, would require urgent humanitarian assistance in 2007. Additionally, as a result of the on-going fighting, between 500 and 1,000 are dead, thousands are injured and an estimated 390,000 are newly displaced (although it is estimated that approx 117,000 IDPs have been able to return since 20 June). Parts of Mogadishu have been destroyed by heavy weapons. Some people are now returning to their homes. More than 30,000 cases of cholera have been reported, resulting in over 1,000 deaths, and high levels of food insecurity persist in many areas. |
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DFID response |
UK is the third largest bilateral donor to the 2007 UN Appeal, contributing US$7.2m. Further to on-going support from 2006, DFID has contributed an additional £6.4m towards humanitarian activities since Jan 07. Further support is currently being considered to IMC, ACF and Trocaire. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
Continuing and widespread acute malnutrition in many areas. 2.6 million people covered in emergency appeal and further 8 million supported under the national productive safety nets programme. Some humanitarian needs resulting from flooding and the widespread incidence of acute watery diarrhoea. |
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DFID response |
The UN report that humanitarian contributions so far in 2007 amount to US$177m. Since January 2006 total humanitarian contributions amount to US$550m, of which the UK has contributed US$805m, making the UK the sixth largest bilateral donor. |
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Situation |
Evidence of malnutrition and food security crisis but humanitarian responses facing major challenges and access compromised. Increased tension over simmering border conflict with Ethiopia. No figures available for numbers affected |
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DFID response |
DFID’s humanitarian budget has risen from £3.8m in 2005/06 to £4.8m in 2007/08. In 2007 DFID has provided £1m to the ICRC Annual Appeal for Eritrea for assistance of victims of conflict. This includes visit to detainees and prisoners and improving access to water in and near the Temporary Security Zone. The UN reports that total humanitarian contributions since January 2006 amount to US$41m, of which the UK has provided US$5.9m. Total donor contributions to date for 2006/07 are US$6m. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
1.25 million people remain displaced in camps because of LRA conflict. Further 500,000 people in Karamoja currently receiving assistance. |
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DFID response |
DFID Humanitarian spend so far this financial year £7 million (£5m for food and £2m for Joint UN Health Programme). Anticipated spending up to £15 million this financial year on a mix of humanitarian interventions and recovery assistance as the situation dictates. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
10 million people identified as being in humanitarian need. High crude and under five mortality and high maternal mortality in many areas, especially in the East but also in non-conflict affected areas. Inadequate response and/or capacity in most affected areas such as Ituri, Province Orientale. Over 1.1 million IDPs in the Kivus are the main vulnerable group, with increasing stress being placed on host families. An increasing number of IDPs are now staying in informal camps. |
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DFID response |
DFID humanitarian anticipates spend of £35m in 2007/08 including
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Country/region |
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Situation |
Approximately 150,000 refugees in Tanzanian camps, 200,000 in settlements. Approximately 40,000 “illegal immigrants”. |
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DFID response |
DFID Burundi continues to monitor the situation and press for longer term planning and closer coordination on both sides of the border. DFID’s humanitarian spend in FY 2006/07 was £7.4m, £6m of which was to government emergency programmes and the 2007/08 allocation is £2m. |
Country/region |
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Situation |
As at the end of March 2007 67,255 people affected by cholera and 2,722 deaths since early 2006. Heavy rains and flash floods have come to an end. An estimated 40,000 people were affected countrywide and 11,000 have lost their homes. An estimated 3,000 families are homeless in Luanda. |
DFID response |
DFID contributed £200,000 in 2006 for MSF towards the cholera response. Latest cholera situation judged to be under control but requires close monitoring. |
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Situation |
Estimates show that crop production this year could be as low as 600,000 metric tons. There is an estimated 65% deficit of 1.36 MT of cereal. It is reported that the Government is bartering sugar for maize from Malawi. Other imports could come from Zambia. Prices from South Africa have firmed but are still almost twice those of last year. |
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DFID response |
On-going humanitarian programmes. DFID commitments:
DFID provided £3m to support WFP operations during the critical months of 06/07 (lean season) The Regional Humanitarian Adviser visited Zimbabwe in June to review the food security situation. A DFID commitment to WFP Zimbabwe’s activities in 2007/08 is currently under consideration. |
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Situation |
Consecutive cyclones and flooding over recent months have resulted in widespread damage across the country. UNICEF estimated 450,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance. |
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DFID response |
In 2007/08, DFID contributed £700,000 to support the UN Flash Appeal and IFRC’s Emergency Appeal. |
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Situation |
25,000 Togolese refugees in Ghana and Benin since 2005 political crisis in Togo. Improved repatriation prospects for 2007. Late-reporting Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2006 reveals high rates of acute malnutrition in Kara and Savannes, showing 24% - 32% global acute malnutrition (GAM) and 8% severe acute malnutrition (SAM). |
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DFID response |
DFID provided £250,000 to support UNHCR’s assistance programme for
2006/07. Up to £250,000 foreseen for 2007/08 to support repatriation or nutrition in Togo. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
High malnutrition rates in some areas and general vulnerability following conflict. 410,000 recently returned refugees and IDPs. 135,000 Liberian refugees still residing in neighbouring countries. |
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DFID response |
Current DFID humanitarian engagement is around £4.5m covering health, water, sanitation, livelihood recovery, shelter and refugee/IDPs return and reintegration. Total DFID development and humanitarian commitment for 2007/08 planned at £10m. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
Humanitarian situation remains relatively stable with 2006 and 2007 showing 30% reduced rates of mortality and acute malnutrition compared to 2005. For 2007 1.1 million people estimated to be food insecure with around 400,000 facing severe food insecurity. Agencies are planning to treat 350,000 acutely malnourished children and 20,000 acutely malnourished pregnant/lactating women. |
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DFID response |
DFID’s 2006 contribution towards a variety of response, recovery and mitigation projects was £3.5m. 2007/08/09 humanitarian strategy is to maintain emergency nutritional interventions until end of 2008 hungry season, with total anticipated humanitarian engagement in Niger/Sahel at £3.5m. From this, DFID has agreed £1.5m over the next three years to tackle longer-term nutritional vulnerabilities in the region; and will also support the setting up of an NGO Disaster Risk Reduction Consortium, for £3m over three years. |
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Situation |
Food security reportedly deteriorating in localised areas as lean season advances because of low agricultural production (27% less than 2006 7% less than 5-year average) and increasing prices. 16.2% Global Acute Malnutrition reported in some areas. Government claims that up to 1 million “food insecure” in need of verification. |
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DFID response |
In 2006/07, DFID provided £250,000 to fill gaps in pipeline for emergency nutritional activities up until March 2007. Currently awaiting findings of WFP assessment before considering support to food-aid pipeline after August. |
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Situation |
The division of the country in two following the 2002/03 conflict has created a complex emergency situation, with protection needs in the west and basic service decline in the north. UN estimates 700,000 IDPs in varying states of vulnerability. |
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DFID response |
DFID provided humanitarian assistance worth £1.9m in 2006/07. For 2007/08, up to £1.5m likely. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
Up to one million people (25% of CAR’s population) affected by conflict in the north-eastern and north-western provinces. This has caused the displacement of up to 220,000 IDPs and 70,000 refugees, including 20,000 newly displaced in fresh fighting in north-west. |
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DFID response |
£1m provided in 2006/07 to WFP and ICRC for their work in the north. An additional £1.5m agreed for 2007/08 to support expanded humanitarian and protection activities. Includes £550,000 for UN-managed ERF. |
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Country/region |
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Situation |
Rapid floods assessment identified 1.4m flood affected people, with main impact on infrastructure and public health. In depth assessment due mid July. |
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DFID response |
DFID contribution of £50,000 to Concern Worldwide to support awareness raising, voluntary relocation and relief cash transfers to 1,700 households in 2 districts. Follow on recovery and Disaster Risk Reduction phase under review. |
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Situation |
There are currently 300,000 IDPs in Sri Lanka displaced since April 2006. A few thousand IDPs have returned home in the last month to areas recently taken by Government forces in the east of the country. A further 500,000 IDPs remain displaced from the Asian Tsunami and conflict before 2002. Thousands of war affected people remain inaccessible in the north and east of the country, particularly in Jaffna and LTTE controlled areas in the north. |
DFID response |
DfID has already dispersed £1m this year to fund expanding humanitarian activities in Sri Lanka. |
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Situation |
UNHCR estimates there are up to two million people internally displaced in Iraq and around two million Iraqi refugees in Syria, Jordan and, to a lesser extent, Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey. Many of these Iraqis were displaced prior to 2003, but an increasing number are now fleeing the ongoing sectarian, ethnic and generalised violence. Over four million are considered food insecure according to the latest WFP assessment. |
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DFID response |
DFID has contributed £10m so far this year to support the provision of humanitarian assistance, protection and basic services for IDPs and refugees to help agencies carry out needs assessments. DFID funding has gone to UNHCR, IOM, OCHA and international agencies operating in Iraq in response to all the major appeals. |
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Situation |
Inter factional fighting between Hamas and Fatah erupted in mid-June throughout Gaza. OCHA report that between 9-13 June, 101 Palestinians killed over 550 injured. Relative calm has now been restored. The major humanitarian concern is the closure of border crossings points, restricting the flow of both aid and commercial goods. UN reported at the beginning of July that they would be able to deliver enough basic humanitarian supplies for next 2 months. However food supplies remain an issue and the impact on the fragile economy is significant, further damaging coping mechanisms. |
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DFID response |
UK has become one of the first countries to give direct aid to the Palestinian Authority following violent outbreaks in June.UK to pay off £3m of the debt owed by the PA to businesses it has received services from. On 20 June DFID allocated £1m on 20 June for the ICRC, to support a wide range of activities, including providing, healthcare, food security, household relief kits and rebuilding water and sanitation facilities. DFID provided £15.6 million to UNRWA in April, to fund essential services such as health, education and housing to 4.1 million Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. 70% of population of Gaza Strip are refugees who directly benefit from this assistance. DFID has also provided £15 million through the TIM. This has supported Palestinian front line health services, allowances for government workers and the operation, maintenance and repair of water, sanitation and electricity services in Gaza and the West Bank. UK aid for the Palestinians was not suspended following the election
of Hamas. Our aid in 2006 was the same as it was for 2005 - £30m and in
2007 it will be £31.6m. |
Glossary
AWD |
acute watery diarrhoea |
CAP |
Consolidated Appeals Process |
CAR |
Central African Republic |
CERF |
Central Emergency Response Fund |
CHF |
Common Humanitarian Fund |
DRC |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
DDRR |
disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration |
ECHO |
European Commission Humanitarian Office |
FAO |
Food and Agriculture Organisation |
GAM (rates) |
Global Acute Malnutrition |
ICRC |
International Committee of the Red Cross |
IDF |
Israeli Defence Forces |
IDP |
internally displaced people(s) |
IOM |
International Organisation for Migration |
LTTE |
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam |
MT |
metric tons |
WFP |
World Food Programme |