Rapid Response Payment Request No. 11/2009

Funds Sent To: Ecumenical Office for Support to Development (BOAD)

Amount Sent: US$ 39,156

Date: 16 July 2009

Details of Response

Emergency: Fire displacing hundreds of Families in Goma

Date of Emergency: 10 July 2009

Implementing Member(s): BOAD and NCA

DETAILS OF THE EMERGENCY:

In the morning of 8 July 2009, a fire broke out in the Birere/Mapendo quarter of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu province. The detailed figures of the damage are still being established, but according to the approximate figures 300-400 houses were burned to the ground. According to Goma Municipality, 777 families were left homeless. As one household consists of approximately 6 persons, the total number of people affected is likely to be over 4500. A few people are still missing, but no casualties due to the fire had been reported as of the morning of 10 July.

Birere is the poorest and the most densely populated neighborhood in Goma, and many of its inhabitants earn their meager living through petty commerce. This means that most of the affected families lost not only their homes, but also their means of generating income, since the sales items, as well as other working tools are usually stored at home.

Part of the affected families are currently sheltered in two churches, and the Municipal authorities are now negotiating with two schools in Goma to offer temporary shelter for the victims of the disaster in the school buildings that are vacant now during the summer holiday period. However, the hygiene conditions both around the churches and the schools in question are likely to deteriorate rapidly, as there is no sufficient water supply at these sites. NCA has set up distribution points for chlorine in other parts of Goma to prevent an outbreak of cholera and the problems needs to be addressed immediately also for the people in Birere. The support through this RRF should also ensure that the affected population is not left to their own devices in a post-conflict situation.

ACTIONS TO DATE, AND EMERGENCY NEEDS:

The situation is being assessed further by OCHA, FAO, WFP, and the Rapid Reaction Mechanism regrouping a small core of humanitarian NGOs. The Municipality has set up a Crisis Committee which is harmonizing both the numbers of the affected households, and the aid efforts to assist them. ICRC and the local Red Cross are organizing a Non Food Item distribution to the affected households on 11 July. WFP and FAO are planning a food distribution as an immediate relief to the families left homeless. The most immediate needs in food and material aid to the victims of the disaster are likely to be covered in the next few days. However, concerns that remain unaddressed are the provision of clean water to the sites where the families will be sheltered, and the assistance for the families to reconstruct their houses. As most of the people affected lost everything they have (home, means of income generation, saved assets, personal belongings...) the psychological consequences are likely to be non-negligible as well.

PROPOSED EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

- OBJECTIVE OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

Contribute to the improvement of conditions of accommodation of 700 families by:

~ Assistance in rough in favour of 150 families in the new sites of installation.

~ Supply cleaning water for the 700 families in the accommodation sites and reset the construction of latrines.

- TARGET POPULATIONS:

Beneficiary information and location of response:

Area / Sites / Number of beneficiairies / Implementing Agencies

Goma Town / KYESHERO Primary school / 700 households (4,200 individuals) / NCA: Water and hygiene

Goma Town / BIRERE/MAKORO / 150 households / BOAD: Distribution of tin sheeting for roofing

- PROPOSED ASSISTANCE:

The members of the ACT Forum in Goma visited the site of the disaster on the evening of 8 July, and called up an emergency meeting the next morning. After consulting with OCHA and the Municipal Crisis Committee, the following domains were identified as Gaps as compared with other agencies' response to the disaster: Water and hygiene at the temporary shelter sites, and reconstruction support to the affected households.

(For detailed activities, kindly visit the ACT site. Thank you.)

- IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS:

The implementation of the project will be assured by two organizations of ACT Forum Pool Oriental: BOAD and NCA.

- BOAD will be in charge of support reconstruction: Identifying the beneficiaries and establishment of local distribution committees, purchasing and distributing tin sheeting

- NCA will be in charge of supplying water in setting bladders tank at the temporary shelter site. Build 3 latrines blocks in the site.

These two organizations might use other members of the Forum as execution partners in the different sites.

Therefore, the contract of collaboration will be signed between partners.

- COORDINATION:

Forum members engaged in this project will be in permanent touch with crises committee created by the government for the follow up of the intervention of different humanitarian actors in favor of the disaster families. The coordination of intervention will be assured by the Forum coordination:

~ the organization of meetings to harmonize and evaluate the continuation of the activities

~ Field visits to assess results, and identification of the remaining needs of beneficiaries

~ Reports compiled and submit to ACT CO after translation

~ Co-ordination with other humanitarian organisations in the area of intervention

- COMMUNICATIONS:

The development of project activities will be shared between members of Forum through its weekly meeting, but also in inter agencies meetings organized either by OCHA, either by the comity of crises set up by the Provincial government.

The key sequences of project will be spread through the local radio.

- PLANNED IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD:

The implementation period will be for one month and shall begin as soon as funds are available. We presented the planned duration of activities in the previous point of proposed assistance.

BUDGET: US$ 39,156

(For detailed budget, kindly visit the ACT site. Thank you.)

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of $ 39,156 USD from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment. Should there be an appeal for this emergency, the RRF payment will be considered as an advance.

(ends)

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.