Summary of major revisions made to emergency plan of action:
This update provides a brief overview of the Burundi Red Cross Societies actions to date in the preparations for the start of their response activities to be covered by the Emergency Appeal (in anticipation of pledges). Appeal coverage at the time of writing is 0%, donors are encouraged to support the appeal to enable BRCS to provide assistance to the targeted beneficiaries through the planned activities as detailed in the Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA). A DREF loan of 161,922 Swiss franc is being processed to BRCS.
A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
April 2015: Following the President’s decision to run for another term, tensions and violence erupts in the capital of Bujumbura and some provinces. This resulted in a number of casualties in the capital and large numbers of people fleeing the country.
June - July 2015: Presidential elections went ahead, however following Nkurunzinza’s electoral victory, opposition groups in exile aligned to form the National Council for the Restoration of the Arusha Accords.
September 2015: The El Niño weather phenomenon resulted in heavy rains, winds, landslides and floods in 15 out of 18 provinces causing extensive and widespread destruction. Most of the affected provinces normally don’t have problem with flooding, and the others experienced heavier rainfall than usual. The floods resulted in 80 reported deaths, 170 people injured, 821 houses damaged, 4,112 houses destroyed along with 15,265 hectares of cultivated fields; 154 schools and 50 bridges destroyed/damaged. It is estimated that 30,408 people have been affected so far(Burundi Red Cross Society).
January – February 2016: IFRC deploys a one-person surge team (supported by British Red Cross) to work with BRCS to identify the priority needs and response actions.
March 2016: An IFRC surge operations manager (supported by Swedish Red Cross) deployed to support the start-up of the operation and ensure coordination of activities with Movement and non-Movement partners.
April 2016: Emergency Appeal launched for 1,532,090 Swiss franc. IFRC`s Disaster Emergency Relief Fund (DREF) of 161,922 Swiss franc allocated to support the start of assistance.
This update provides information regarding the first 14 days of the operation since the launch of the Appeal.