A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
On 12 December 2014, 10 cases of cholera were reported in the Chetmari area of Diffa region of Niger. By 14 December 2014, 91 cases and four deaths had been reported; and by 20 December 2014, this had risen to 183 cases. On 24 December 2014, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) released CHF 261,637 from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Red Cross Society of Niger (NRCS) respond to the needs of the affected population. The DREF operation was intended to support 3,000 households (15,000 people) in the Diffa region, with heath and care, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion activities; over a period of three months.
On 6 February 2015, due to the evolving insecurity situation in the Diffa region, which has included incursions by the Boko Haram group into Niger, all components of the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement were forced to suspend activities to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers and the beneficiaries being served. The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), as the lead agency in the region, have continued to monitor the security situation.
On 5 March 2015, following a meeting between all Movement partners operating in Diffa, it was agreed that activities could be resumed in accordance with a new “intervention strategy for Diffa region”, which will prioritize: awareness raising / sensitization, distribution of water purification tablets and oral rehydration solutions (ORS), provision of hygiene items and disinfection of latrines in health centres / schools. On 20 March 2015, an Operations Update was issued to extend the timeframe of the DREF operation to enable the activities planned to be completed in accordance with the new intervention strategy, which included a revision to the schedule as per the Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA). As of 13 April 2015, it is estimated that 50% per cent of the activities planned have been completed, and progress made in accordance with the agreed EPoA in the following areas:
Training of 30 volunteers on response against cholera outbreaks using the ECV manual and disinfection of facilities and use of ORS; as well as 14 volunteers on cholera surveillance via SMS.
Awareness raising / sensitization campaigns for cholera prevention and control, which have reached 3,158 people.
Referral of 31 cholera cases via SMS to the nearest health facilities.
