A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
From April 2014, cases of cholera were reported in the Far North region of Cameroon. By 24 July 2014, 1,321 cases had been reported and 61 deaths across 10 districts (Bourha, Goulfey,
Hina, Mogode, Mokolo, Kousseri, Koza, Maroua rural, Mindif and Roua). By 12 August 2014, this had increased to 1,680 cases and 77 deaths across 12 districts (with the addition of Maroua II,
Maroua III and Mindif). Please refer to the “Needs analysis and scenario planning” section.
On 4 August 2014, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies released CHF 191,112 from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Cameroon Red Cross Society (CRC) respond to the needs of the affected population. The DREF operation was intended to support 10,044 people in eight districts (Bourha, Goulfrey, Hina, Kosa, Kousseri, Mogode, Mokolo and Roua) with emergency health care, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion activities over a period of three months. On 30 October 2014, an additional allocation of CHF 25,806 was released, and an extension of the timeframe made (to five months), in order to respond to the emerging needs in the Maroua (split into Maroua I, Maroua II and Maroua III) and Mindif districts, enable the implementation of activities planned in the Goulfey and Kousseri district, which were disrupted following incursions by suspected Boko Haram militants (refer to “Security” for information on the implications this had on the DREF operation). In total, the DREF operation was intended to directly support 123,874 people, that is, 10% of the affected population (1,238,740 people), in 12 districts.
Through this DREF operation, the CRC indirectly reached out to 1,238,740 people in 12 districts, through mass communication (radio and TV broadcasts, newspapers, etc.) and door-to door awareness activities, of which an estimated 591,328 people were directly assisted through implemented activities. As such, the direct target was met above expectation (approximately 47.7%), while the indirect target was met at a 100%. Progress against the intended outcomes was made in the following areas:
Health and Care
330 CRC volunteers were trained in the use of the Epidemic Control for Volunteers (ECV) manual, then mobilized to carry out sensitization on the prevention and control of cholera, as well as surveillance and referral activities.
In total, 591,328 people were sensitized on the prevention and control of cholera; and 3,853 suspected cases of cholera were identified by CRC volunteers and referred to the nearest health centres. Door-to-door, mass and focus group discussion awareness techniques were used to reach and even surpass the planned target.
Water, sanitation and hygiene promotion
6,416 water supply infrastructures were treated (chlorinated).
40,792 latrines were disinfected; and 9,142 sites were cleaned in collaboration with the affected population.
420 hand washing kits were distributed to restaurants located across the 12 districts.