Viewing entries posted in April 2012
New Zealand responds to Horn of Africa drought
In 2011 the worst drought for 60 years across the Horn of Africa destroyed crops and left people and livestock dead. Across Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti, millions of people needed immediate assistance. In response, the New Zealand Government provided a package of assistance totalling almost $6 million to the World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross and four New Zealand non-government organisations. This funding enabled agencies to deliver food, water and integrated assistance programmes to the people most in need.
Deadly Flash Floods Hit Kenya
Scores have been left homeless and an unconfirmed number of people have died in flash floods across the country. Seven members of a Nairobi church youth group who were swept away by flash floods at Hells Gate in Naivasha are now confirmed dead.
By Monday morning, three bodies had already been retrieved and the remaining four had been sighted. Efforts were being made to retrieve the remaining four, according to officials of the Kenya Wildlife Services.
Pakistan: Food security remains a major challenge for flood-affected population
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
- Favourable outcome of the 2012 winter wheat crop production is forecast
- Prices of wheat and wheat flour continue to rise, while those of rice stabilized at high levels
- Food security remains a major challenge for the flood-affected population
- Favourable outcome of the 2012 winter wheat crop production is forecast
Africa: Aid Officials Aim to Use APPs and Twitter As New Tools in Disaster Relief
London — Smartphone apps, video game technology and Twitter feeds are to be recruited to help survivors of disasters as part of a British government scheme aimed at making increased use of social networking technology in rescue work after earthquakes, floods and famines.
The scheme will support projects with £48.5m of Department for International Development funding over three years out of existing aid funds.
Paraguay: Flooding in the Chaco
Heavy rainfall over the past week in the Chaco region of Western Paraguay has caused significant flooding with disastrous consequences. According to the Secretaría de Emergencia Nacional (Department of National Emergencies- SEN) the floods are some of the worst experienced in the region in the last few years.
Temporary employment boosts early recovery from Fiji floods
Suva, Fiji - Market vendors whose livelihoods have been washed away by the floods in Fiji earlier this month will be employed in a special “cash-for-work” scheme starting this week.
The temporary employment programme will initially support 260 flood affected in Fiji—70 percent of them women—hiring them for an initial period of 20 working days to help rebuild their livelihoods and directly involve them in their communities’ recovery efforts.
Poor rain forecast in Somalia threatens recovery
Nairobi, 13th of April, 2012: Situation still dire as malnutrition and death rates remain high. Forecasts for insufficient rains in Somalia threaten to reverse gains made since last year’s famine, and prolong the dire food crisis which continues to cripple the country, a coalition of 19 aid agencies said today. With the March ‐ May rains forecast to perform poorly, the number of people in need of food aid is likely to increase. The agencies are calling on the international community to continue to prioritize aid for Somalia at a time when the UN appeal for 2012 remains vastly underfunded.
Blog: Health and Science - Decoding science for humanitarian needs
An unforeseen forum for innovation with the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives and livelihoods in some of the most disaster-prone communities in the world is being pioneered in Senegal and Kenya right now.
Worst floods in 8 decades
The flooding experienced by Ram Rati in early 2009 was nothing compared to what she and other families faced on March 30.She is still reeling from the fear created by the devastating floods which caused havoc in the Western Division.
Horn of Africa: Manage the Risks, not just the Crisis, stresses OCHA
Expert forecasts warn that rainfall in the Horn of Africa throughout the March to May growing season is likely to be lower than average. The UN and humanitarian partners are now urging early action to prevent food insecurity from worsening across the region, with an emphasis on building resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
The Non-Govt Organisation Disaster Relief Forum (NDRF) is facilitated by the Council for International Development