Summary of the Operation
On 15 September 2015, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) supported the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society (PNGRCS) through the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) allocation, to deliver humanitarian aid to families affected by the frost and drought resulting from the El Niño effect.
The operation experienced some challenges in implementation, including visa difficulties for the food security team leader, security issues, and delays while negotiating with communities for safe access. As a result the operation was extended for three months to allow sufficient time to implement the activities.
The DREF operation has been successful on a number of levels:
The operation fully reached its target outcome, in total some 3,012 households (16,566 people) were reached with hygiene promotion and jerry cans.
The DREF operation has built the capacity of the Mt Hagen branch of PNGRCS in a number of core areas including assessment, hygiene promotion, distribution, monitoring and beneficiary communications. Off the back of the operation, the Mt Hagen branch has launched a volunteer recruitment drive. The operation has also built the capacity and confidence at PNGRCS headquarters and the four branches that participated in the hygiene promotion training (facilitated by Touching the Untouchable).
As a result of this DREF operation, PNGRC has built partnerships with Care International and Touching the Untouchable, a local hygiene promotion NGO and has the opportunity to develop these relationships further.
The DREF operation recognized the need to train women hygiene promoters to reach the target communities and as a result, 55 women have been trained and empowered. The women will take these skills and confidence back to their own communities.
The DREF operation has highlighted the good cooperation between PNGRC, the IFRC and the ICRC in Papua New Guinea.
This DREF received major contribution from the European Commission Directorate-General Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (DG ECHO). The IFRC, on behalf of the Papua New Guinea Red Cross, would like to extend its appreciation to all partners for their continued support.
The DREF operation concluded on 15 March 2016, and a preliminary final report was issued on 14 June 2016. The total final expenditure recorded under this operation is CHF 137,092. The unspent balance of CHF 13,577 will be returned to the DREF.