CHF 120,557 was allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 6 March, 2012 to support the Burkinabe Red Cross Society (BRCS) in delivering immediate assistance to some 600 families.
Summary: In mid-January 2012, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azwad (MNLA) carried out attacks against the Malian Army positions in Northern cities of Aguelhoc and Menaka, and in the city of Nianfunke, north-west of Mali. The Regular Malian Army responded to the attacks, which developed into humanitarian crises causing the displacement of thousands of civilians in Mali and neighbouring countries including Burkina Faso.
At the end of February 2012, there was a rapid influx of Malian refugees to Burkina Faso and by the end of February 2012, approximately 20,000 refugees were reported in different locations of the country. According to BRCS, there are 65,000 refugees currently in various locations throughout the country.
With the assistance of the DREF, BRCS responded to the most pressing needs of the most vulnerable refugee families through distribution of essential non-food items to 500 families, hygiene promotion and health awareness sensitization to 1,951 households, and installation of temporary shelters (1,956 tents). Furthermore, potable water and improved sanitary conditions through installing latrines and wash rooms were provided for refugee families. BRCS mobilized and trained 75 volunteers on First Aid, sensitization approaches, Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST) method for deployment in the DREF operation.
BRCS worked closely with many other humanitarian actors (IFRC, ICRC, Monaco Red Cross, Belgian Red Cross, Luxembourg Red Cross, Help, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and government institutions) towards ensuring a coordinated and complemented approach for supporting the displaced population.
Summary of impacts:
· A total of 500 refugee families in Houet (Bobo) were provided with basic household kits composed of mats, blankets, kettles, buckets, jerry cans, hygiene kits and kitchen sets.
· The National Society worked closely with UNHCR and provided technical support for the set up of 2 camps with 1,956 tents. The BRCS assumed responsibility for installing 765 tents in Soum (Mentao) and 1,191 tents in Oudalan (Férério). Through these sheltering services, the National Society contributed to the provision of safe, adequate and appropriate shelter solutions for the Malian refugees.
· A total of 75 community volunteers mobilized by the Burkinabe Red Cross, including volunteers from the refugee population, were trained on First Aid, sensitization approach, Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST) method.
· Sensitization sessions on hygiene promotion conducted thus raising awareness among refugee population on water-borne diseases transmission. Through door to door and focus group discussion, the volunteers reached 1,951 households (8,586 people) with health education and disease prevention messages. The preventive measures performed in the camps are likely to have contributed to the absence of the outbreak of an epidemic.
· A total of 100 temporary latrines were provided by IFRC and dispatched in Soum. At the end of the operation - following the construction of 24 permanent latrines and 24 wash rooms in Mentao refugee camp - these temporary latrines were disinfected, dismantled and included as pre-positioned emergency stock. The permanent latrines and wash rooms were installed through the contribution by the Red Cross of Monaco.
· A borehole was drilled and a water pump installed, which contributed to refugees having access to clean drinking water.
This operation was expected to be implemented over four months, and completed by July 2012. Due to logistical challenges as a result of flooding in the country since beginning of June 2012, and a large scale food security crisis in the country requiring response from the national society, there were delays in the implementation of the relief activities which necessitated an extension of the DREF operation to 31 August 2012. A total of CHF 29,466 unutilised at the end of the operation has been returned to DREF.