- 68,799 CHF to assit Chilean Red Cross Emergency Operation .
- Second time the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent offers assitance to Chile in less than seven months, the previous action had been issued for the Severe Winter Operation in La Araucania.
- 250 families (more than 1,000 people) assisted in recovery from fires.
12 January, 2012 – Chile Following last week’s forest fires which raged across thousands of hectares in three regions of the country leaving hundreds of people without homes, land, or jobs, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), by request of the Chilean Red Cross, has provided 68.799 CHF to assist in the emergency reponse operation. This is the second globally coordinated response in less than seven months, the first in July last year when severe winter weather struck La Araucania.
The funds will be used to assist 250 families affected by the firest in the Maule and Bio-Bio regions by providing first aid, delivery of first aid kits and supplies needed to treat, clean and dress wounds and burns caused by the fires. Water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion are also top priorities that are constantly changing due to a high demand for safe drinking water resulting from the power outages that have interrupted the use of motorized pumps.
Delivery of humanitarian aid is also very important due to the loss of household supplies, with kitchen kits, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, buckets and water filters, being distributed to restock affected households.
The Director General of the Chilean Red Cross Ms. Yolanda Muñoz, highlighted the fact that this is the second time the global humanitarian network has provided support to Chile in less than seven months.,
“This is again a powerful display of the confidence that the IFRC has for the Chilean Red Cross., in the management of resources and implementation of budgets given the severity of what has occurred”, said Ms, Munoz..
The Red Cross Chile Earthquake Operation Coordinator, Michele Detomaso, confirmed that the timliness, efficiency and centralization of the Chilean Red Cross response via its regionally qualified staff and available in-country resources, is the result of strengthening and professionalizing the institution on several levels thanks to lessons learned following the 2010 earthquake.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network, reaching 150 mil¬lion people each year through its 186 member National Societies. Together, the IFRC acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. It does so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class and political opinions. For more information, please visit www.ifrc.org. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
For more information, or to set up interviews, please contact:
In Chile:
Nicolas Sepulveda, communications and marketing director, Chilean Red Cross,
Av. Santa Maria 0150, Providencia-Santiago
Tel: 562-7834136/Fax 7370270
nicolas.sepulveda@curzroja.cl, comunicaciones@cruzroja.cl
In Panama:
Enrique Jair Guevara, emergency communications officer, Americas Zone, IFRC
Mobile : +507 66707365 – E-mail : enrique.guevara@ifrc.org
Follow PADRU on twitter @PADRUpanama
In Geneva:
Jessica Sallabank. IFRC Senior Media Officer.
Mobile +41 799481148
Jessica.sallabank@ifrc.org