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In response to the heavy rains and floods that affected over 32 500 people in Egypt between end of October and beginning of November 2016, the European Commission provided €166 000 humanitarian funding to help the most vulnerable families.
This EU-funding supports the Egyptian Red Crescent in delivering relief assistance to meet the immediate needs of up to 10 000 people affected by the floods. The funding will help refill the stocks of blankets, mattresses, pillows, plastic sheeting and other urgently needed items that had been given out during the first hours of the disaster. EU funding will help finance the first aid response as well as hygiene promotion and kits to reduce the risk of water and sanitation related diseases. The funding is part of the EU's overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Heavy rainfall and floods hit several governorates of Egypt (South Sinai, Red Sea, Sohag, Qena, and Assuit), killing 26 people and injuring 72. Houses were washed away, main roads closed and telephone and power lines cut, especially in Red Sea Governorate. At least 6 500 families - approximately 32 500 people - have been affected by the floods and need emergency shelter, water, sanitation and food.
Background
The European Union together with its Member States is the world's leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. The European Commission, through its Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), helps over 120 million victims of conflicts and disasters every year.
The European Commission has signed a €3 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters – those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.
The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund was established in 1985 and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can then be replenished by the donors. The delegation agreement between the IFRC and the European Commission enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (that fit in with its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €3 million.
