CHF 126,768 has been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Red Cross Society of Niger (RCSN) in delivering immediate assistance to some 6,500 most vulnerable households in the affected villages of four regions (Tillabery, Tahoua Dosso, and Diffa), and to assess the needs of the population in the most affected areas of 6 Regions (Tillabery, Tahoua, Dosso, Diffa, Zinder and Maradi). Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
Summary: This DREF aims to mitigate the effects of food shortage due to bad harvests in 2010/2011 affecting about 3 million people. The DREF is issued to respond to a request from the Red Cross Society of Niger (RCSN) to support sectors of food security and nutrition for about 6,500 households with activities aimed at substituting lost livelihoods and meeting essential food needs through cash for work, cash transfers, and food distribution, as well as support to nutrition centres.
According to estimates from the Niger Ministry of Agriculture and the Director of statistics, the 2011/12 agro-pastoral campaign is marked by a deficit of 519,639 tons in cereals equivalent to 14 percent cereal needs of the population and 10,222,308 tons for forage. As a result, it is anticipated that the lean season will start in January instead of the usual March.
This operation is expected to be implemented over a period of 2 months, and will therefore be completed by 20 February, 2011; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 20 May, 2012). A needs assessment team is in the field and its recommendations will be considered in making a decision on the potential launch of an emergency appeal to extend the activities until the harvest time in October or November.
The major donors and partners of DREF include the Australian, American and Belgian governments, the Austrian Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross and government, Danish Red Cross and government, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), the Irish and the Italian governments, the Japanese Red Cross Society, the Luxembourg government, the Monaco Red Cross and government, the Netherlands Red Cross and government, the Norwegian Red Cross and government, the Spanish Government, the Swedish Red Cross and government, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the Medtronic and Z Zurich Foundations, and other corporate and private donors. The IFRC, on behalf of the National Society, would like to extend thanks to all for their generous contributions.