Alert-11-2020 Hurricane ETA Honduras and Nicaragua
By Monday, November 2nd, the National Disaster Authorities for both Nicaragua and Honduras, reports that, given the characteristics of its movement and speed of its winds, ETA has become a Category 4 Hurricane before touching land, by November 4 it has been degraded to Tropical Storm but keep influencing both countries.
The public advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center, in November 2, ETA presented an eyewall of an extremely dangerous hurricane, moving around onshore along the coast of northeastern Nicaragua and Honduras.
It is expected to bring life-threating STORM SURGES, CATASTROPHIC WINDS, FLASH FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES. Even after degrading to Tropical Storm
Alert Nicaragua and Honduras _Hurricane Eta
Nagorno Karabagh: Armed conflicts
On the morning of Sunday the 27 September 2020, Azerbaijan army attacked the region of Nagorno Karabagh using heavy artillery, tanks, aircraft and missiles. Towns and villages were bombed, including the capital city of Sepanakert. This conflict put country in the state of crisis. 47 civilian is death and 135 wounded, while 90.000 people has to seek refuge. The military operations may expand beyond the conflict zone, resulting in serious atrocities and a humanitarian crisis in the region, exacerbated by the situation related to the coronavirus outbreak. This situation is undermining regional security and peace, significantly raising the risks of a full-fledged war. 90.000 affected people are currently hosted in hotels, camps, vacant buildings and families with many unmet vital humanitarian needs such as access to: food, shelter, clothing, including for cold season, footwear, blankets, pillows, bedding, sanitation and hygiene items, stationery for schoolchildren, technical means for on-line classes, and payment for utilities.
ART, a national member of ACT Armenia forum intends to support displaced persons, predominantly women and children with shelter, food and non-food items.
Alert_Armenia_Armed conflicts in Nagorno Karabagh
Philippines: Typhoon Goni
Super typhoon Goni made landfall in Bato, Catanduanes on the early morning of 1 November, 2020. The category 5 typhoon considered as the world’s strongest typhoon this year, had maximum sustained winds of 225 km/hr and gustiness of up to 280 km/hr and moving at 25 kph affecting 372,716 families or 1.4 million people in five regions across Central and Southern Luzon. Last week a weaker typhoon, typhoon Quinta affected the same areas while another one, typhoon Atsani, has entered the Philippines right behind Goni on a slightly different path. Philippines is still experiencing high number of COVID-19 cases which makes the situation complicated.
ACT Philippines Forum has convened and plans to raise an appeal to support their response. The members have been coordinating with other humanitarian actors especially through faith-based networks, NASSA/Caritas Philippines and the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches – PhilRADS,
ALERT Philippines Typhoon Goni
Alert-10-2020 Migrant Caravan Honduras
During the night of Wednesday the 30 September 2020, the city of San Pedro Sula in Honduras was
the meeting point for approximately 2000 people who organized themselves via social media to leave
Honduras in an effort to reach the United States. This is the first Caravan (the name these massive
migration efforts are given by media) since the Covid19 outbreak and since Guatemala has become
part of an agreement as a third-safer country signed with USA in 2019. In consequence transit in
Guatemala and Mexico is riskier due to reinforced security measures and an increased rejection
towards migrants in these countries. CASM expects that in the following days, returnees will
massively arrive to San Pedro Sula. This alert is to provide assistance for a dignified and secured
return.Alert Honduras Migrant Caravan
In the afternoon of Tuesday the 5 October 2017, the province of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique, recorded the first armed attack carried out by fundamentalist terrorists, leading to the outbreak of armed conflict that persists to this day.
Over the past three years, monitoring groups say more than 1,500 people have been killed and at least 10,000 households have been displaced. Reliable casualty reports have not yet come through, but they are expected to be significant and it remains unknown how many civilians have died (The Guardian, ReliefWeb Aug 2020).
Insurgents have also captured a strategic port in the restive province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique. Government forces in Mozambique are fighting to regain control of a remote area in the north causing alarm that fighting in Mozambique could destabilize the region.
CEDES a national member of ACT Mozambique forum intends to support displaced households with food and non-food items.
Mozambique_Conflict
On August 4, 2020 a catastrophic explosion at Beirut Port caused widespread damage for hundreds of buildings including grain silos storing around 85 percent of the country’s grain, and numerous residential places have been damaged or destroyed, including many healthcare facilities and several major hospitals in Greater Beirut area, due to the blast. Official governmental reports estimate that more than 135 people were killed and over 5,000 are injured, and more than 300,000 people left homeless in the Greater Beirut area. Beirut’s governor estimated the damages costs ranging from $3-5 billion, and calls for international aid to Lebanon.
ACT Lebanon forum is in discussion on submitting a funding proposal to the ACT Secretariat to provide assistance in Shelter rehabilitation/ NFI, food assistance, hygiene items, and cash for work to ensure that the affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards to their needs.
Lebanon Alert- Explosion
Horn and East Africa: Desert Locusts
The desert locust is considered the most destructive migratory pest in the world as it is highly mobile and feeds on large quantities of any kind of green vegetation, including crops, pasture, and fodder.
In February 2020, the government of Somalia declared the locust upsurge a national disaster. Currently, various UN and government agencies are conducting post-event assessment /spraying.
The region is now seeing the spread of swarms of desert locusts that may eat crops in many countries before the main harvest from July to September. FAO currently projects that an additional 1.5 to 2.5 million people could become severely food insecure as a result solely of locust outbreaks.
ACT Horn and East Africa Regional forum are planning to submit a Regional appeal on cash transfer, seed and livestock feed emergency stocks. Requesting members in the regional appeal will include Christian Aid in Ethiopia, LWF, NCA in South Sudan, DCA, CoU in Uganda and CWS, ADS in Kenya, among others.
All interventions will be conducted within WHO guidelines on prevention of COVID-19.
Horn and East Africa_ Desert Locust Infestation.
Horn and East Africa: Desert Locusts.
The desert locust is considered the most destructive migratory pest in the world as it is highly mobile and feeds on large quantities of any kind of green vegetation, including crops, pasture, and fodder.
In February 2020, the government of Somalia declared the locust upsurge a national disaster. Currently, various UN and government agencies are conducting post-event assessment /spraying.
The region is now seeing the spread of swarms of desert locusts that may eat crops in many countries before the main harvest from July to September. FAO currently projects that an additional 1.5 to 2.5 million people could become severely food insecure as a result solely of locust outbreaks.
ACT Horn and East Africa Regional forum are planning to submit a Regional appeal on cash transfer, seed and livestock feed emergency stocks. Requesting members in the regional appeal will include Christian Aid in Ethiopia, LWF, NCA in South Sudan, DCA, CoU in Uganda and CWS, ADS in Kenya, among others.
All interventions will be conducted within WHO guidelines on prevention of COVID-19.
Horn and East Africa_ Desert Locust Infestation.
Alert_05_2020_Tropical Storm Amanda El Salvador
ALERT
El Salvador
San Salvador, May 31st. 2020
| SITUATION |
| On May 31st. 2020 the Tropical Depression 2-E has been reclassified as Tropical Storm AMANDA, and is located just off the coast of the Pacific, between El Salvador and Guatemala. The Tropical Storm Amanda, has brought so far between 371-400 millimeters of rain in 48 hours, equivalent to the 10% of the yearly rainfall which may increase; as it is expected that rain to continue for 72 hours . Relief Organizations, like the Red Cross, Life Saving Commands, Green Cross, among others, have been active since the Executive branch issued a yellow alert on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.
This Sunday morning, the 31st of May, the Government of El Salvador announced red alert at national level.
According to preliminary official data, the following damage has been reported:
15 deceased people, 7 missing persons 154 emergency shelters enabled, and 7,222 evacuees and 18,622 families directly affected. Approximately 900 homes have been damaged and the water service is cut in the department of San Salvador. Many communities have no electricity due to fallen trees over electric wires and structures. Needs assessment may reflect the real damaged in the next hours Some reports by users of social media are attached and a link to representative images is provided here (LINK)
According to community sources where members of the ACT Forum have a presence:
People and authorities have requested churches, community centers and cultural houses to be used as shelters. All over the country shelters are set to receive people affected by this event.
Most of these emergency shelters have been improvised and can exponentially increase the cases of COVID19 as there are no appropriate protocols and some of them even combined evacuated and quarantined population.
Seasonal crops (bananas, plantains, corn, beans and vegetables) in general are heavily damaged and in some cases totally lost; further depriving families of food and income sources to face the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
You can directly access the latest information available from official sources through the following link: https://proteccioncivil.gob.sv/ |
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| NEEDS |
| Food, WASH, Shelter, psychosocial support, health services, and cash transfers for immediate emergency response and support livelihood’s recovery.
Needs assessments would also be a challenge in the first days of the emergency, because municipal and departmental committees are not fully activated or coordinated with the central level. This is a result of the President´s decision to dismantle the national committee of civil protection and to delay the appointing of departmental governors; nonetheless, the communities are organizing to collect the necessary information and support, through their local organizations. So, at this stage working at local level is essential to set a link with the immediate needs.
It is hoped to pay attention to the subsequent recovery stages in the most affected territories, providing necessary resources and rehabilitation mechanisms. |
| STAKEHOLDERS |
| The main stakeholders that lead monitoring, evaluation and rapid response in the country are the following institutions: The Civil Protection System through, Municipal and Community Committees, the Humanitarian Country Team, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [UN-OCHA].
The National Civic Protection System, which includes the national and military police, along with humanitarian and relief agencies are mobilizing, food, clothing, wash, hygiene and sanitation. While Churches are liaising with shelters, communities, and requesting humanitarian assistance, mainly for food, WASH, hygiene and sanitation. |
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| The members of the ACT Alliance in El Salvador are currently active, monitoring the development of the Tropical Storm and are in contact with authorities, partners and other NGOs in preparation to respond. Staff are preparing to submit a funding proposal to provide a rapid humanitarian response.
Additional information on the ACT Forum member agencies is available on the:
https://actalliance.org/about/forums/
Any planned response will be led by the ACT El Salvador Forum integrated by the Lutheran World Federation, Christian Aid, Sinodo Luterano, and ALFALIT. In addition to life-saving assistance, the ACT Alliance will strive to integrate DRR, preparedness, climate change mitigation and advocacy into its response. After the issuance of the alert, the Forum and the ACT Secretariat will issue concept notes and status reports based on the needs assessments.
Please notice that due to the COVID19 current situation we will set activities aligned with the duty of care towards our beneficiaries, volunteers and staff. |
Latin America and the Caribbean
ACT Regional Representative, Carlos Rauda (Carlos.Rauda@actalliance.org)
Humanitarian Programme Officer, Sonia Judith Hernandez (Sonia.Hernandez@actalliance.org)
Geneva: Alwynn Javier, Global Humanitarian Coordinator (Alwynn.Javier@actalliance.org)
ACT Website: https://actalliance.org/
SECRETARIAT: 150, route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switz. TEL.: +4122 791 6434 – FAX: +4122 791 6506 –
www.actalliance.orgAlert_05_2020_Tropical Storm in El Salvador
Horn and East Africa: Floods Emergency
Since the beginning of the long rains (March-May), the Horn and East Africa region has been faced with extreme rainfall and widespread flooding, directly affecting 1.26 million people (ERCC) May 2020.
The floods find the affected countries in the region at a time of already unprecedented threat to food security, aggravated by the worst Desert Locust upsurge in over a generation, which will affect at least 12.5 million people with food crisis at emergency levels.
Increased border restrictions brought about as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, already exacerbates the vulnerability of the people into need further.
ACT members in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda have recently launched appeals in response to the flood emergency while Uganda Joint Council of Churches will submit an RRF.
Horn and East Africa Floods Alert
