Jagan Chapagain
IFRC Secretary General
28th Septemper 2022
220 million:
that is how many people affected by disasters have been supported by National
Societies through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund – DREF over the last 44
years.
500 million:
that is how many Swiss francs the DREF has provided to National Societies in need all
over the world since its inception.
Established in 1979, the DREF provides fast financial grants and loans to National
Societies for emergency services before and immediately after a disaster.
Today, disasters are recurring more frequently with more severe impacts.
Humanitarian needs are growing exponentially. So too is the pressure on our IFRC
network to anticipate and respond to bigger and more complex crises.
Our DREF is evolving to meet these needs. After more than one year of innovation,
teamwork, consultation, revision, testing, and development, the DREF is evolving into
a more agile mechanism.
As one of our IFRC Flagships, the DREF contributes to achieving our Strategy 2030
and making good on the Agenda for Renewal. It ensures our support builds
capacities and is locally led and owned by National Societies.
DREF’s evolution doesn’t stop here. Important efforts are ongoing to secure more
funding through innovative mechanisms such as the Insurance project and to help
National Societies respond to disasters with more agility and at scale.
DISASTER RESPONSE EMERGENCY FUND 2022 Annual Report