2023-07-11 16:23:53
Faced with the scale of the disaster, an outpouring of exceptional generosity (more than 44.4 million euros collected from citizens and businesses) enabled the Belgian Red Cross to come to the aid of those affected in the emergency, first, then in the long term. “Today, the whole has been redistributed for the benefit of all those affected and in particular young people, isolated and vulnerable people and those with precarious housing”, says the association which, two years following the disaster, presents the final assessment of its flood cell created in an emergency the day following the deluge. The crisis coordination center, located in Montegnée, in the municipality of Saint-Nicolas in the province of Liège, ends its mission at the end of July. “We are coming to the end of this response to the floods. We are not going to stop there, however, since the presence of the Red Cross continues through its local houses, and the presence of its volunteers with the disaster victims”, underlines Franck Gorchs-Chacou, director of the flood unit.
44.4 million collected by the Red Cross were redistributed to disaster victims ©DR
From emergency to long term
From the start, the Red Cross “put in place the most appropriate response to the basic needs of the affected population, in close collaboration with local and regional authorities and social partners”. As a matter of urgency, as soon as the federal appeal was received, the organization opened a “flooding” crisis unit, with a seven-point action plan. The first actions are deployed through local aid and emergency food aid to disaster victims, on the ground. Six million euros are used to provide basic aid and psychosocial assistance. “This resulted in the installation of 22 reception points throughout the disaster area, to provide information and administrative assistance, as well as showers, toilets and mobile washhouses,” explains the director. The system remains in place for eight months before ending in March 2022. As for food aid, “4.7 million euros made it possible to organize the distribution of 1.5 million meals for several months in the areas most affected”.
In terms of accommodation, following sheltering people, “it was necessary to set up a longer-term system such as the opening of an accommodation center at the former Espérance clinic in Montegnée. , in the town of Saint-Nicolas”, which made it possible to temporarily relocate 300 victims. In all, 3.2 million are devoted to medium-term accommodation for more than 500 disaster victims, including 180 children.
In terms of direct financial aid, the Red Cross granted a donation to the 6,700 most vulnerable households for a total amount of 6 million, before opening a second larger envelope of 4.75 million for 16,400 affected households.
The Belgian Red Cross has also collaborated with the 38 municipalities most affected to provide material aid to disaster victims, in particular for the purchase and distribution of 6,200 various household appliances, the purchase of modular housing and aid for relocation. “The Red Cross has supported the gas-electricity certification of more than 4,500 families”.
In addition, “2.4 million euros made it possible to support 104 school projects and 26,000 pupils to resume lessons in better conditions”. This support has also helped around twenty childcare centers or homework schools. Finally, 750,000 euros were used to meet specific needs related to winter 2021/22.
The team of volunteers and managers poses in front of the Red Cross house in Nessonvaux. ©MICHEL TONNEAU
Red Cross Houses
Once the emergency phase was lifted, the Red Cross continued its field action, handing over to a local team of around fifteen people, in the province of Liège, until July 2023. “1.6 million was devoted to continuing local aid by strengthening or developing new Red Cross branches, such as in Liège, Esneux, Trooz, Chaudfontaine, Verviers and Pepinster. A “mobile” Red Cross House has been deployed in Trooz, a solidarity grocery store opened in Pepinster, and since July 11 a permanent “pavilion” has been installed in La Brouck. In addition to the continuity of food and administrative aid, “this local aid also makes it possible to strengthen social ties and the fight once morest isolation”, concludes Daniel Charlier, president of the Olne-Sprimont-Trooz Red Cross house.
The Red Cross announces the end of its flood cell and the takeover by the Red Cross houses which have been installed in the flooded valleys. ©MICHEL TONNEAU
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