The European Union allocates 65,000 EUR to help the victims of the floods in Azerbaijan

Heavy rains lasting for ten days in early May have caused flooding and landslides in seven regions in the central and southern parts of Azerbaijan.  Three people lost their lives and a total of 70,000 people are still affected by the disaster. Some 20,000 houses are under water and around 50,000 hectares of cultivated land and pasture are flooded. Sabirabad district has been worst hit with more than 24,000 people affected.

The authorities supported by the Azarbaijan Red Crescent have been actively responding to the situation, ensuring evacuation and providing food and items of basic necessity, however emergency stock are quickly depleting.

The European Commission provided 65,000 EUR to bring relief to the victims. This aid has been used to provide food and other items such as gas stoves, mattresses bedding and hygienic items to about 2,200 people who had to be evacuated from their villages to the nearest town in Sabirabad district. The aid was channelled through the Red Crescent who operates with funding out of The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The European Commission has signed a 2 million EUR humanitarian contribution agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters – those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.

The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund was established in 1985 and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can then be replenished by the donors. The contribution agreement between the IFRC and the European Commission enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (that fit in with its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of 2 million EUR.


/Today.Az/