CERF gives $2.6 million to UN partners for flood-affected people in Paraguay

24 July 2012: Heavy rainfall near the border of Argentina and Chaco Central has caused flooding and devastation in Paraguay. The flooding has isolated entire communities in scattered and marginalized hamlets, where vulnerability to food insecurity is high.

Floods have seriously affected the livelihoods of the most vulnerable indigenous and creole communities. This is due to limited access to traditional foods; considerable losses of subsistence crops and livestock; poor food- and seed-conservation capacity; and limited access to local markets. An assessment mission comprising national authorities and UN agencies observed a deterioration of affected people’s nutritional status. As the new planting season will start during September and October 2012, the flooding poses a significant risk to the food security of vulnerable communities.

In response, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) provided US$2,577,014 to five UN agencies to aid relief efforts.

The World Food Programme (WFP) received $1,197,002 to provide emergency food assistance to 50,000 people. Beneficiaries include indigenous groups and small farmers who depend on subsistence agriculture damaged by the flooding.

Livelihood support, in the form of seeds, tools and poultry, has been provided through a $502,532 rapid response grant to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). An estimated 7,449 families will receive aid through CERF-supported livelihood activities.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) received $299,975 to fund a project to restore sanitation, hygiene and water systems within indigenous communities and in schools. A second UNICEF project was also funded to help re-establish schooling and provide psychosocial support for more than 2,000 children.

CERF funded the distribution of non-food items to indigenous and rural communities through a $299,988 grant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). CERF also provided a $177,513 grant to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support health-care service delivery for flood-affected communities.

For more information about CERF, visit: www.unocha.org/cerf