Appeal

Colombia

Assistance to floods affected communities - LACO71

Appeal Target: US$ 215,277

Balance requested to the ACT alliance: US$ 194,842

Geneva, 24 August 2007

Since March 2007, continuous heavy rains in Colombia caused floods affecting 600,000 Colombians in 247 municipalities and 27 departments. ACT members, Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH), reported a particularly severe situation in the department of Cordoba (north of the country) and Arauca (west, at the Venezuelan border) for people who had already fled their homes settling in marginal areas along the riverbanks, because of the internal armed conflict between the guerilla and militias. More than 300 displaced families are now living in appalling housing conditions in urban slums with little or no access to basic services.

Through ACT Rapid Response Fund 15/2007 issued on July 25, 2007, LWF, with its partner the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CPDH), brought relief support to the municipalities of Arauca and Arauquita through food distribution, health care, sanitation and housing to 1,434 persons affected by the outburst of the river Arauca. In the department of Cordoba, where the rivers Sinú and San Jorge overflowed affecting 50,000 persons, DKH, with its partner Benposta, provided psychosocial assistance and recreational activities for 3,500 children along with emergency health care for 325 persons in the settlements of Palo de Agua, Nariño and Playón. DKH also intervened through rehabilitation of a local aqueduct.

On August 8, ACT members in Columbia reassessed the situation and decided that LWF should reinforce its support to displaced families in the department of Arauca who are particularly vulnerable. Through funding support to this appeal, LWF with its partner CPDH plans to continue their relief intervention, which includes: (i) the operation of community kitchens, (ii) recreational activities for youths and (iii) awareness activities on health and human rights. All the activities will form an integrated project, which aims at enabling communities to cope with emergency situations.

Project Completion Date: 31 may 2007

Reporting schedule:

Interim narrative & financial reports: 31 January 2008

Final narrative & financial reports: 31 July 2008

Audit report: 31 August 2008

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested (US$):

Total Appeal Target(s): 215,277

Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 20,435

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 194,842

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FOR THE FULL TEXT OF THE APPEAL (PDF FILE), KINDLY VISIT THE ACT SITE. THANK YOU. _________________________________________________________________________________

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar

Account Number - 240-432629.60A

IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro

Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z

IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together

UBS AG

8, rue du Rhône

P.O. Box 2600

1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND

Swift address: UBSW CHZH12A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Michael Zschiegner (mzs@act-intl.org) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.