DREF operation n° MDRKM002

Comoros: Air GLIDE n° AC-2009-000126-COM

Accident 25 November 2009

The International Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked
money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red
Cross Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation’s
disaster response system and increases the ability of National Societies to respond to disasters.

Summary: CHF 24,652 was allocated from the

Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF)
on 8 July 2009 to support the National Society in
delivering assistance to some 994 beneficiaries.

On 30 June 2009, Yemenia Airways Flight 626

crashed off the coast of the island of Grande Comore
(the main island of the Comoros Union) while
attempting to land at Moroni Prince Said Ibrahim
Airport. A 14 year girl was the only survivor out of the
153 people on board the aircraft.

The Comoros Red Crescent (CRC) governance, staff

and volunteers were mobilized as part of the
emergency response. Approximately 100 staff and Welcome sites were set up and managed by
volunteers were deployed to different sites organized Comoros Red Crescent, to welcome families of
by the CRC; Mitsamiouli region closest to the scene of affected.
the crash, El-Maarouf hospital, Moroni Port and at the
Centre for Emergency operations in the Civil Protection building (COSEP1).

This DREF assisted the National Society in coordinating its emergency response activities. The National
Society assisted approximately 994 beneficiaries by managing sites to welcome families of the victims of
the plane crash, providing psycho-social support and basic First Aid services. Although the National
Society had planned to carry out search and rescue and corpse management activities, this was not
possible as the only bodies recovered during the operation timeframe were found off the Tanzania’s coast.

The major donors to the DREF are the Irish, Italian, Netherlands and Norwegian governments and ECHO.
Details of all donors can be found on
http://www.ifrc.org/what/disasters/responding/drs/tools/dref/donors.asp

<click here for the final financial report or here to view contact details>

1
Centre des Opérations de Secours et de la Protection
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The situation
At approximately 01:30 hours on 30 June 2009, Yemenia Airways Flight 626 crashed 30 to 50 kilometres off
the coast of the island of Grande Comore while attempting to land at Moroni Prince Said Ibrahim Airport. On
board the aircraft were 153 people, including 142 passengers and 11 crew members. Following news of the
plane crash, the National Society staff and volunteers were mobilized at all levels. National Society
volunteers were deployed to provide assistance and support to the injured, transport of bodies to the
mortuary, corpse management and to provide psycho-social support to the families of the affected. In its role
as auxiliary to the Government, and with the support of the French Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross and
Spanish Red Cross, the National Society worked in collaboration with the National Disaster Committee,
COSEP, and El-Maarouf hospital. Teams were deployed with emergency response equipment, in particular
First Aid kits, masks, gloves, tents and an ambulance.

On 30 June 2009, one survivor (a 14 year old girl) was rescued at around midday. The Government solicited
international support to strengthen search and rescue missions and in investigating the cause of the crash.
Teams from France, United States of America, Yemen and Comores, among others, participated in the
emergency operation. Search and rescue activities were difficult due to the harsh sea and weather
conditions. Two weeks after the crash, a total of 22 bodies were found off the Tanzania coast. Identification
teams from France, United States, Tanzania and Comores, are currently undertaking DNA tests to identify
these bodies. This process is expected to take 3 to 4 months as eight different nationalities are amongst the
victims of the plane crash. Should the bodies be repatriated to the Comores, it is expected that the National
Society will be using its ambulance to transfer the bodies to the hospitals and onwards to their respective
villages for burial.

Approximately two weeks after the end of this DREF operation, the United States of America specialist
teams were able to access the wreckage of the plane with the bodies trapped. The authorities requested the
assistance of the National Society in recovering the bodies. Eight volunteers from the CRC have been
working with medical personnel in recovering the bodies of the affected persons.

Red Cross and Red Crescent action

After the announcement of the plane crash, approximately 100 CRC volunteers were mobilized. The number
of volunteers tripled as news of the crash spread across the country. The CRC established four sites:
Mitsamihouli with 40 volunteers, the airport with 20 volunteers, Moroni Port with 20 volunteers and Hospital
El Maarouf with 20 volunteers. Coordination meetings were held with the authorities and other actors, the
outcome of these meetings led to reduction of the number of sites by the CRC to three: National Hospital (El-
Maarouf), the University of Comores and COSEP; where bodies of the affected were held and their families
received. Over 45 volunteers were permanently deployed on rotation in the three sites during the operation.

With the support of the Indian Ocean Regional Intervention Platform (PIROI2), Canadian and Spanish Red
Cross Societies, the CRC set sites to welcome the families of the affected who would be in need of
information and counselling, as well as the recovery and management of bodies from the crash sites,
transport to the hospital and finally to their respective villages for burial. This DREF helped to ensure proper
logistical support, providing volunteers and staff with the necessary equipment and facilities for the smooth
running of the operation. The National Society was unable to procure some basic medical items (such as
gloves and antiseptic gels) and blankets for volunteers, as these were not available in country. Despite this,
camp sites were set up and successfully managed during the said period.

With the DREF, the National Society was able to set up 3 permanent welcome sites, where volunteers were
based to welcome the families of the affected. These family members were distraught and the volunteers
were able to support them through psycho-social support and basic First Aid. It was noted that many of the
affected families were angry due to the lack of information from the authorities and the support of the
National Society volunteers was vital to calm matters. Bodies of affected were found off the coast of
Tanzania and in the wreckage of the plane (after the end of the operation), so volunteers did not have to
carry out any corpse management activities.

2
In French: Plate-forme d’Intervention Regionale pour l’Ocean Indien

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Achievements against objectives

Emergency Health
Objective: Up to one thousand people (family and friends of the affected) mourning their loss are
provided with psycho-social support to help them come to terms with their loss.
Activities planned
• Train 45 volunteers (1 day training) in psycho-social support to families and friends of the
affected.
• Provide psycho-social support to families affected by the loss of family or friends.
• Provide families with basic First Aid if required.

Impact
Planned training in psycho-social support for 45 volunteers by doctors from the nearby French Island of La
Réunion was not carried out due to the unavailability of the doctors, who returned to La Réunion shortly after
the crash. However, four National Society volunteers who were trained in psycho-social support guided and
supported the rest of the volunteers in supporting families and friends of the affected who made their way to
the site.

Approximately 994 family members and friends of the affected were welcomed in the sites maintained by the
National Society. They suffered greatly from shock, fatigue and anxiety. Many spent the entire day at the
sites for information regarding the people affected by the crash, and often were unable to eat and take care
of themselves due to extreme fatigue. They received refreshment, psycho-social support and basic First Aid.
Six people suffered extreme fatigue and were taken to hospital by the volunteers. It was noted that young
volunteers were particularly good at welcoming members of the public, and helped reduce stress levels of
upset families.

Human Remains Management

Objective: Victims of the plane crash are appropriately transferred from the accident scene to their
village for burial.
Activities planned
• Ensure bodies and remains found are transferred to COSEP operation site (mortuary).
• Bodies of affected persons are cleaned (as per cultural norms) and volunteers help in their
identification.
• Volunteers accompany bodies of the victims to their respective villages for burial.

Impact
Due to bad weather conditions, search and rescue missions were affected, two weeks after the crash, a total
of 20 bodies were found off the coast of Tanzania. These bodies are currently being identified. The remains
of the plane have now been found, and approximately 6 weeks after the plane crash, volunteers of the
National Society are being solicited in recovering the bodies. The National Society will be involved in the
transport of these bodies to the hospital as well as onward transport to the respective villages for burial.

Logistics
Objective: Ensure that staff and volunteers are provided with the necessary items and tools to
facilitate effective services to beneficiaries.
Activities planned
• Ensure proper communication between volunteers and staff on sites by provision of phone
cards.
• Provide meals for volunteers for the duration of the operation.
• Facilitate logistical deployment of equipment and personnel.
• Provide affected families of victims with refreshments at the site managed by CRC.

Impact
Approximately 350 volunteers were involved in this DREF operation working in rotation at the 3 welcoming
sites managed by the National Society. A minimum of 45 volunteers were present at the welcoming sites
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daily. Volunteers at the site were provided with tents, beds, sleeping bags which enabled them to sleep at
the sites and assure a constant presence. Volunteers were also provided with meals and telephone cards to
allow them to maintain communication with each other and the National Society Headquarter as well as the
costs of their transport to and from their respective villages. The National Society ambulance facilitated the
transfer of 6 people suffering from extreme fatigue from the camp sites to the hospital.

How we work

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards
in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

The International Federation’s activities are Global Agenda Goals:

aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets • Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact
out four broad goals to meet the Federation's from disasters.
mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable • Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact
people by mobilizing the power of humanity". from diseases and public health emergencies.
• Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross
Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent
situations of vulnerability.
• Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social
exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human
dignity.

Contact information

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

• In Comoros: Croissant Rouge Comorien (Ibrahima Ahamada, Secretary General), phone: +269 773
06 64; email: [email protected]
• In Mauritius: Indian Ocean Islands Sub Zonal Office (Susanna Cunningham, Head of IOI Sub
Zone), phone: +230 252 0855; Fax: +230 454 7531; email: [email protected]
• In Kenya: Eastern Africa Zone Office (Nancy Balfour, Disaster Management Coordinator, Eastern
Africa, Nairobi), phone: +254.20.283.5208; Fax: + 254.20.271.2777; email: [email protected]
• In Kenya: Eastern Africa Zone Office (Dr. Asha Mohammed, Head of Zone, Eastern Africa, Nairobi),
phone: +254.20.283.5124; fax: 254.20.271.27.77; email: [email protected]
• In Geneva: Pablo Medina, Operations Coordinator for Eastern Africa; phone: +41.22.730.43.81; fax:
+41 22 733 0395; email: [email protected]

<final financial report below; click here to return to the title page>

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 Selected Parameters
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Reporting Timeframe 2009/7-2009/10
Budget Timeframe 2009/7-2009/10
MDRKM002 - Comores - Air Accident Appeal MDRKM002
Budget APPEAL
Final Financial Report All figures are in Swiss Francs (CHF)
I. Consolidated Response to Appeal
Goal 4:
Goal 1: Disaster Goal 2: Health Goal 3: Capacity Principles and Coordination TOTAL
Management and Care Building Values

A. Budget 24,654 24,654

B. Opening Balance 0 0

Income
Other Income
Voluntary Income 24,652 24,652
C5. Other Income 24,652 24,652

C. Total Income = SUM(C1..C5) 24,652 24,652

D. Total Funding = B +C 24,652 24,652

Appeal Coverage 100% 100%

II. Balance of Funds

Goal 4:
Goal 1: Disaster Goal 2: Health Goal 3: Capacity Principles and Coordination TOTAL
Management and Care Building Values

B. Opening Balance 0 0
C. Income 24,652 24,652
E. Expenditure -22,716 -22,716
F. Closing Balance = (B + C + E) 1,936 1,936

Prepared on 25/Nov/2009 Page 1 of 2

 Selected Parameters
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Reporting Timeframe 2009/7-2009/10
Budget Timeframe 2009/7-2009/10
MDRKM002 - Comores - Air Accident Appeal MDRKM002
Budget APPEAL
Final Financial Report All figures are in Swiss Francs (CHF)

III. Budget Analysis / Breakdown of Expenditure

Expenditure
Account Groups Budget Variance
Goal 1: Disaster Goal 2: Health Goal 3: Capacity Goal 4: Principles Coordination TOTAL
Management and Care Building and Values

A B A-B

BUDGET (C) 24,654 24,654

Supplies
Food 12,402 10,245 10,245 2,157
Medical & First Aid 462 462 -462
Utensils & Tools 1,033 499 499 534
Total Supplies 13,435 11,206 11,206 2,229

Land, vehicles & equipment

Office/Household Furniture & Equipm. 833 833
Total Land, vehicles & equipment 833 833

Transport & Storage

Distribution & Monitoring 589 589 -589
Transport & Vehicle Costs 1,667 1,556 1,556 111
Total Transport & Storage 1,667 2,145 2,145 -478

Workshops & Training

Workshops & Training 450 450
Total Workshops & Training 450 450

General Expenditure
Travel 3,000 3,328 3,328 -328
Office Costs 750 1,273 1,273 -523
Communications 2,750 3,155 3,155 -405
Financial Charges 167 132 132 35
Total General Expenditure 6,667 7,888 7,888 -1,221

Programme Support
Program Support 1,603 1,477 1,477 126
Total Programme Support 1,603 1,477 1,477 126

TOTAL EXPENDITURE (D) 24,654 22,716 22,716 1,939

VARIANCE (C - D) 1,939 1,939

Prepared on 25/Nov/2009 Page 2 of 2