Chile - IOM Chile is ending its emergency assistance to victims of floods that hit northern Chile in late March.

The emergency response, which was funded by a USD 338,220 grant from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), allowed IOM, with Caritas and Chilean Red Cross, to facilitate the return of displaced families in the municipalities of Diego de Almagro, Chanaral, Tierra Amarilla, Paipote and Copiapo.

IOM also completed a needs assessment and distributed cleaning kits, non-food relief items (NFIs) and 200 tool kits for reconstruction.

It also provided emergency assistance to 165 vulnerable migrants from Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, replacing documents lost in the floods and providing them with rent money and household equipment.

In the municipality of Diego de Almagro, IOM built a community laundry for three emergency shelters. In Chañaral and Paipote, it distributed re-building materials and organized workshops to help people to build back better. 

IOM Chile Chief of Mission Norberto Girón noted IOM’s commitment to families and migrants affected by the floods. “IOM worked with the government, Caritas Chile, and the Chilean Red Cross, and in close coordination with the UN, to improve conditions for everyone affected by the flood. These building materials and tools will help families to rebuild the homes they lost," he said.

For more information please contact Marina Esponda at IOM Chile, Tel: +56-2 29 633710, Email: mesponda@iom.int