Summary: CHF 157,540 was allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 30 March 2011 to support Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) in delivering assistance to some 7,500 beneficiaries (1,500 households) affected by the earthquake in Eastern Shan or to replenish disaster preparedness stock.
The earthquake struck on 24 March 2011. Based on new information received from the field (as indicated in Operation Update no. 1), the DREF operation target was revised and accordingly, the DREF allocation was utilized by MRCS to conduct assessments in affected areas and distribute emergency shelter kits and nonfood family kits to 701 most affected households. In addition, DREF contributed to the replenishment of 220 family tents.
The DREF operation is part of MRCS’s overall emergency response which targeted 1,200 families, and which has received bilateral support from partner national societies and non-Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners.
The relief assistance helped alleviate the suffering of affected people to some extent and helped them in settling down temporarily during the emergency, and then return to normal lives after the disaster. The affected families have returned to their original locations and resumed livelihood activities.
This DREF operation was concluded at the end of August 2011. The DREF funds (i.e. the allocation provided for Myanmar Red Cross Society’s response to the earthquake) was replenished by Canadian Red Cross/Canadian government, Netherlands Red Cross/Netherlands government and the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (DG ECHO). On behalf of the Myanmar Red Cross Society, IFRC would like to thank all donors for their support in replenishing the DREF.