A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
In February 2014, there was an outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Guinea, which spread to Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone causing untold hardship and thousands of deaths in these countries. As of 27 February 2015, a total of 23,694 cases, and 9,589 deaths, which were attributed to the EVD, had been recorded across the most affected countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an outbreak of the EVD was also reported, but is considered of a different origin than that which has affected West Africa. Benin, with a population of 10,051,000 (UNCDP 2014) shares a border with Nigeria, which has been affected by the EVD, and therefore the risks presented by the epidemic to the country are high. The Benin authorities in response to this situation, initiated measures to prevent and prepare for the occurrence of the virus within its borders, which has included:
Strengthening of epidemiological surveillance throughout the country; especially in the border areas with Nigeria, and at the airport;
Strengthening of health checks at land, sea and air borders;
Increasing vigilance to emergency departments of public hospitals, and in private health facilities.
In Benin, the health authorities also activated the national platform for disaster risk reduction to reflect on the situation through meetings held at the Ministry of Interior and Public Security.
DREF Final Report Benin: Ebola Virus Disease BRCS volunteers’ awareness campaign at markets in targeted municipalities Photo/ BRCS.
This final report is being issued following a preliminary final report issued on 2 March 2015 without the financial report.
The Netherlands Red Cross/Silent Emergencies Fund contributed to the replenishment of the DREF allocation made for this operation. The major donors and partners of DREF include the Australian, American and Belgian governments, the Austrian Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross and government, Danish Red Cross and government, DG ECHO, the Irish and the Italian governments, the Japanese Red Cross Society, the Luxembourg government, the Monaco Red Cross and government, the Netherlands Red Cross and government, the Norwegian Red Cross and government, the Spanish Government, the Swedish Red Cross and government, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the Medtronic and Z Zurich Foundations, and other corporate and private donors.
IFRC, on behalf Benin Red Cross Society, would like to extend thanks to all partners for their continued support.