A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
Niger is a West African country located in the heart of the African meningitis belt, which stretches from Senegal to Djibouti. The hot and dry climate is favourable to the outbreak of meningitis epidemics generally between November and May. In April 2015, following an escalation in meningitis cases (from December 2015), an epidemic was been officially declared by the Ministry of Public Health. In parallel, a measles epidemic was also confirmed in regions in the north of the country: Agadez, Maradi and Zinder being worst affected. On 2 May 2015, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) released CHF 100,428 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 210,000 people (30,000 households) in Dosso and Niamey (meningitis response), and Agadez and Zinder (measles response), over a period of six weeks.
On 2 June 2015, an Operations Update was issued to extend the timeframe by two weeks; and an additional allocation of CHF 102,770 to expand the activities planned in response to the meningitis epidemic into an eight additional districts. In total, 10 districts Niamey I, II III, IV, and V, Doutchi, Gaya, Fillingué, Kollo, Ouallam with awareness raising/ sensitization campaigns, as well as preparedness for response in 10 other districts that had not been affected, but were at risk. Following the stabilization of the measles epidemic, and indications that the number of cases was reduced, it was agreed that the activities planned in Agadez and Zinder would be cancelled. On 10 July 2015, an Operations Update was issued to extend the timeframe by three weeks (New end date: 31 July 2015) to enable the completion of a lessons learned workshop.
The DREF operation was replenished by the Belgian Red Cross / Government and Canadian Red Cross / Government. The major donors and partners of the DREF include: the Red Cross Societies and governments of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the USA, as well as DG ECHO, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) the Medtronic and Zurich Foundations and other corporate and private donors. The Nigerian Red Cross Society would like to extend many thanks to all partners for their generous contributions.
Please note that this Preliminary Report is issued in advance of the Final Report, which will include a Financial Report following the reconciliation of issues regarding the expenditures incurred.