ACT Alliance demonstrates its value as the leading faith-based alliance in humanitarian response by working with faith and humanitarian actors at the global, regional, national, and community levels. ACT harnesses the combined strength of its members in delivering humanitarian response at scale and with considerable reach through joint programming approaches.
We commit to an effective ecumenical response that saves lives and maintains dignity, irrespective of race, gender, belief, nationality, ethnicity, or political persuasion. Humanitarian needs define our priorities and the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence guide our actions. We remain committed to strengthening the resilience of affected communities and to being accountable to people and communities affected by a crisis. The ACT Alliance Secretariat is certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability and is committed to the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response.
Emergency Steering Committee successfully established, activated more than 30 times since inception with over US$67 million mobilised since 2022 for ACT’s Humanitarian Appeals.
ACT Emergency Appeal coverage (the total amount of funds generated versus budget) has 02 risen from 28% to 46% from 2018 to 2023.
Systematic approach to appeal management – inception meetings, coordination roundtable
discussions, enhanced monitoring, results frameworks and closing meetings all introduced 03 with a focus on Quality & Accountability.
Extensive consultation with members and forums on locally led response within ACT Alliance 04 has led to a Pledge of Commitments which is being launched at the General Assembly 2024.
Through its national, regional and sub-regional forums ACT Alliance provides humanitarian and emergency preparedness support to local communities helping them during a crisis and to become more resilient.
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The Rapid Response Fund is an innovative funding mechanism designed to put local communities at the centre of decision-making and is recognised as one of few such funding mechanisms across the sector.
The RRF provides valuable opportunities to demonstrate the niche of faith actors in humanitarian response as we work closely with local ACT members and their community networks. On average, the RRF funds 20 emergencies annually and responses are implemented within six months.
The primary mechanism for large scale or global emergencies, including protracted crises: ACT Alliance raises an appeal to its membership with both requesting and funding members co-owning the process. Appeals are open for funding during their entire project period and accessible to both national and international ACT Alliance members.
Consortia represent a new funding mechanism for ACT Alliance. As part of Emergency Preparedness planning, consortiums are established before a disaster strikes and consortium members share a vision and strategic focus. Members self-organise and develop their own financial management models and programme strategies supported by the EPRP process and tools.
Emergency preparedness and response planning is integral to the strengthening of ACT Alliance’s capacity to respond effectively in emergencies through joint programming.
ACT national and regional forums develop emergency preparedness and response plans (EPRPs), working collaboratively to understand potential disaster risks and plan how to respond to emergencies quickly and effectively. Forum EPRPs are accessible by members through an online platform, which can be viewed by other members who may be interested to support them. ACT Forums use specific ACT guidelines and tools to support the process of developing an EPRP which is reviewed regularly.
As part of the holistic and integrated approach to humanitarian response, development and advocacy, ACT’s emergency preparedness and humanitarian response is supported by stronger humanitarian coordination and advocacy with stakeholders and duty bearers.
In the current strategic period our advocacy focuses on three banner commitments to the Grand Bargain at the World Humanitarian Summit where ACT has made significant investments and where member engagement is quite strong: the localisation agenda and the primary role of national/local members and local faith actors; demonstrating the important role of faith actors in humanitarian response; and strengthening of cash-based programming across the humanitarian sector.
ACT Alliance is pleased to announce launching a total of 16 Sub-Appeals under the Global ACT Appeal for the COVID-19 Pandemic (ACT201). In addition, 17 Rapid Response Fund proposals have also been approved. The following Sub-Appeals are now available for consideration by ACT members and potential funders/donors: 1. Afghanistan/Pakistan: Humanitarian Response to COVID-19 affected Communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan – ACT201-AFG/PAK. Budget Approved by the Steering Committee to be funded by ACT201: USD1,000,000; Budget Requested: USD3,702,121. 2. Bangladesh: COVID-19 Response to Refugees and Host Communities in Bangladesh – ACT201-BGD. Budget Requested: USD998,638 3. Cameroon: Reduced morbidity and mortality of COVID 19 pandemic and increased preparedness and resilience of communities through public health interventions and community engagement in Cameroon – ACT201-CMR. Budget Requested USD132,149 4. Caribbean Region: COVID-19 Response in the Caribbean – ACT201-CRB. Budget Requested: USD749,683 5. Central America: Inclusive and safe access to humanitarian assistance, by strengthening livelihoods and promoting alternatives to water and basic sanitation (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene); improved conditions of vulnerability through Community-Based Psychosocial support (CPSA) and awareness about gender-based violence in its different manifestations. Central America COVID-19 Regional Response - ACT201-CAM. Budget Requested: USD936,103 6. Democratic Republic of Congo: Preparedness and response to primary impacts of COVID-19 on IDPs, returnees, hard to reach and vulnerable populations in North Kivu and South Kivu, DRC – ACT201-COD. Budget Requested: USD300,879 7. Greece: Emergency support to the most vulnerable Greeks and Refugees suffering from the COVID-19 Pandemic – ACT201-GRC. Budget Requested: USD498,151 8. India: Humanitarian Assistance to vulnerable and affected communities of the COVID –19 Pandemic – ACT201-IND. Budget Requested: USD856,702 9. Jordan: ACT Response to Refugees and Jordanians impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic –ACT201-JOR. Budget Requested: USD844,690 10. Palestine: ACT Response to Refugees and Vulnerable communities Impacted by COVID-19 in Palestine and Israel – ACT201-PSE. Budget Requested: USD718,000 11. Somalia: ACT Multi-Sectoral and Integrated COVID-19 Response in Somalia – ACT201-SOM. Budget Requested: USD1,000,000 12. South Sudan: South Sudan Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic – ACT201-SSD. Budget Requested: USD994,793 13. Southern Africa: To contribute to prevention, management and stopping the spread of COVID-19 through provision of healthcare services to targeted community members in Zambia, Malawi and Madagascar – ACT201-SARF. Budget Requested USD570,000 14.Tanzania: COVID-19 Response in Tanzania - ACT201-TZA. Budget requested USD989, 066 15. Ukraine: Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ukraine – ACT201-UKR. Budget requested USD 355,000 16. Venezuela: Improve protection and assist populations that are most vulnerable to the pandemic, thereby especially addressing needs of IDP’s, migrants and host communities ACT201-VEN. Budget Requested: USD600,000 17. West Africa: Preparedness and response to primary and secondary impacts of COVID-19 on IDPs, Returnees, hard to reach and vulnerable populations in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Sierra Leone ACT201-WARF. Budget Requested: USD971,000 Total Sub-appeals Funding Requested: USD 12,514,854 Rapid Response Fund proposals approved 1. Afghanistan: Community World Service Asia (CWSA) will provide cash to 580 at risk households to support their basic needs, as well as 200 PPE kits for 2 health facilities. 2. Armenia: Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) will provide food assistance to 2545 households and health services to older people in remote areas. 3. Bangladesh: Christian Commission for Development (CCDB) in Bangladesh will provide food and hygiene supplies to 5000 households of daily workers who have lost their livelihoods during the lockdown. 4. Brazil: Coordenadoria Ecumênica de Serviço (CESE) will provide food packages to 4200 indigenous households in the Amazon region, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul. 5. Cuba: Cuban Council of Churches (CIC) will provide protection kits for health personnel from 2 isolation centres, 880 people with personal hygiene kits, food to 140 patients at an isolation centre, and psychosocial support to 2000 people. 6. Egypt: The Bishopric of Public, Ecumenical and Social Services (BLESS) will provide hygiene kits and food to 3000 households, and will work with local faith leaders to disseminate key messages on infection prevention and good hygiene, as well as reducing fear and stigma. 7. Ghana: The Presbyterian Church in Ghana- Relief Services and Development (PRS&D) will provide food to 1500 households, handwashing stations in 10 communities, and protective equipment to vulnerable households and three health centres. 8. Haiti: Service Chrétien d’Haïti (SCH) will engage in a community-led response to raise awareness of COVID-19, encourage families to take appropriate steps to prevent the disease, and provide food to support 420 families losing their daily wage income during lockdown. 9. Honduras: Comisión de Acción Social Menonita (CASM) will provide biosecurity kits to 40 medical staff in 10 primary health units, cash transfers for food purchases to 1650 families, and COVID-19 prevention and anti-stigma information to 7000 people. 10. Indonesia: Pelkesi, Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU) and the Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Community Development Studies will provide PPE and psychosocial support to staff at five COVID-19 referral hospitals, and will reach 10,000 with an information campaign about prevention and mitigation of COVID-19. 11. Lebanon: Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees of the Middle East Council of Churches (DSPR-MECC) will target 440 households including Syrian families living in the camps for cash grants that will be utilised for food, drinking water, medicines, hygien kits, and rent subsidies. 12. Malawi: Christian Agency for Rural Development (CARD) and Evangelical Lutheran Development Service (ELDS) will provide an awareness campaign to reach 2.4 million people with accurate information about COVID-19 and its prevention, and will work with local faith leaders to provide psychosocial support to affected families. 13. Peru: Diaconia Peru will provide free virtual counselling to 12,000 vulnerable people in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Colombia, with an emphasis on the prevention of gender-based and family violence. Local faith leaders will be trained in GBV prevention and pastoral responses to illness and bereavement. Additionally, 600 vulnerable families will receive food and PPE support. 14. Philippines: The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) will provide food packs, sanitation and hygiene kits, and unconditional cash grants to 1500 vulnerable families. 15. Serbia: Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO) and Philanthropy- The Charitable Fund of the Serbian Orthodox Church will provide food packages to 3000 people, hygiene packages to 4300 people, PPE for frontline workers, shelter for homeless people, psychosocial support to 130 people (focusing on gender), and engagement with faith and religious leaders and groups to provide awareness raising. 16. Tanzania: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), through its network of hospitals and local health facilities, will provide PPE for 480 frontline medical professionals, work with 50 bishops and high-level religious workers on information and awareness messaging, and medical interventions for 25,000 high-risk people to reduce new infections and allay fears and anxiety. 17. Uganda: Church of Uganda will provide food assistance to 50 households and communicate to the communities the risk of COVID-19 and its infection prevention. The Church will also engage faith leaders to raise awareness on GBV and provide psycho-social support. Please communicate all pledges and/or funding opportunities to the Head of Humanitarian Affairs, Alwynn Javier (alwynn.javier@actalliance.org), with copy to the Finance Officer, Marjorie Schmidt (marjorie.schmidt@actalliance.org).
While Lebanon is already struggling from the financial crisis, economic contractions and the USD devaluation, and hosting large number of refugees. A warehouse at the Beirut Port containing large quantities of ammonium nitrate exploded on 4 August 2020. After an initial explosion, a subsequent blast caused widespread damage, with reports of damage more than 20 km from the port area. 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 the Greater Beirut area, due to the blast. Official reports estimate that more than 160 people were killed, over 5,000 injured, and more than 300,000 people left homeless in the Greater Beirut area/Mount Lebanon. LEB201-Lebanon Emergency Response
The worst desert locust outbreak in decades is underway in East and the Greater Horn of Africa. According to experts, this is the worst outbreak in over 25 years in Ethiopia and Somalia and the worst observed in over 70 years in Kenya (The Guardian, April 2020). Already, over 11.9 million people in the region are already experiencing severe acute food insecurity due to erratic/poor rains, floods, conflict, and the effects of border restriction brought about by COVID-19 pandemic within the five countries. The desert locust crisis poses an additional potential threat to the food security of another 20.1 million (FAO, January 2020). Recent floods across the Horn and East Africa have created favourable breeding conditions for the desert locust. These conditions have allowed breeding to continue until July 2020 and the favourable conditions could lead to 500 times more locusts (according to FAO. ACT Forums in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda have consolidated a regional appeal in response to the Desert Locust Invasion. Horn & East Africa_ Desert Locust Response (HEA201)
The Government of Lebanon declared a two-week state of emergency in Beirut after the Port explosion on August 4,2020. While Lebanon is already struggling from the financial crisis, economic contractions and the USD devaluation, and hosting large number of refugees, this explosion came to deepen the crises and put extra pressure on both the Lebanese population, the Lebanese government, and the refugee communities. The explosion at Beirut Port caused widespread damage reaching more than 20 km from the port area. Official reports estimate that more than 250 people were killed, around a 100 still missing, over 5,000 injured, and more than 300,000 people left homeless in the Greater Beirut area/Mount Lebanon. RRF06- Beirut Explosion
Background
May 31st: tropical depression 2-e is reclassified as Tropical Storm Amanda. In 3 hours, 10% of the average annual rainfall had hit El Salvador. On Sunday the 1st of June, El Salvador’s government declared a Red Alert.
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On the morning of Thursday 12 to 14 March 2020, the country of Egypt was aggressively attacked by rainfall caused flooding in multiple populated areas (Eleven governorates in Egypt), causing massive property damages and loss of human life. ACT local national member BLESS response will be providing immediate relief through the cash distribution to 60 houses in (6) affected communities, accompanied with hygiene promotion and awareness raising of flood safety and environment. RRF03-Floods Emergency in Egypt
Floods and landslides in south Western Uganda have caused devastating effects. Heavy rains that saw major rivers burst their banks have displaced and affected an estimated 8,266 households who are sheltering at Schools and churches. The overall coordination of this action will be spearheaded by ACT member, Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC). The response will target Pregnant and lactating women, children under five, and the Elderly with food, non-food items and shelter support. Uganda_Floods Emergency RRF No. 04
In just eleven weeks from January through to mid-March 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 has progressed from a discrete outbreak in one Chinese city, to clusters of cases in many countries, through to a pandemic with most countries reporting cases, and many countries experiencing significant outbreaks. The current context in many countries is such that urban agglomerations and informal settlements have grown tremendously (e.g. Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, Manila, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Sao Paolo), and mega-camps have been maintained to cope with massive and protracted displacements (e.g. Darfur, Dadaab, Zaatari, Cox’s Bazar). In addition, people on the move (e.g., Venezuela, Central America, Turkey-Greece border, Syria-Turkey border, Sahel, etc.) are a major vulnerable group, with infections expected to rise exponentially when COVID-19 hits small shelters and holding/detention centers. ACT Alliance Secretariat and members have established coordination mechanisms at the global, regional and national levels. ACT Forums/Forum Members are working on developing a Global Appeal that is largely grounded on the overall principles set out by the IASC in the Global Humanitarian Response Plan to respond to the emerging needs and aid the development and implementation of COVID-19 programs with a budget of USD 12,000,000. COVID-19 Global ACT Appeal - updated Annex 2 - Summary of Country Contexts and ACT Capacity Call for Proposals - ACT COVID-19 Appeal COVID 19 RRF Template Summary of Approved RRF Proposals Infographic of the appeal Two-page summary of the appeal Updated Call for Proposals - ACT COVID-19 Appeal COVID 19 Appeal Template COVID 19 Appeal Budget
Erratic and poorly distributed rainfall in Zimbabwe for two years has resulted in a severe drought affecting the Provinces of Matabeleland North and South. The same eastern region is yet to recover from unprecedented flooding from Cyclones Idai and Kenneth. Humanitarian needs include food assistance, emergency health and nutrition support, increased access to safe water and reviving the market system. Zimbabwe’s food security situation is growing ever more precarious as millions of Zimbabweans require food assistance. Five members from Zimbabwe ACT Forum members, Methodist Development and Relief Agency (MeDRA), Lutheran Development Services (LDS), DanChurchAid (DCA), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and Christian Aid (CA) have raised an appeal to respond to the drought in the sectors of Cash programs, Food assistance/Security, WASH, Climate Smart Agriculture, Emergency Preparedness and Protection. Zimbabwe_Drought Emergency.
Madagascar is a country particularly exposed to high impact weather phenomena and also one of the countries most impacted by cyclones in the world. This year, in January 2020 Madagascar’s West Coast has been struck by a large and long-lasting tropical depression characterized by heavy rains of up to 100 litres per m² within one hour, since the beginning of January 2020. The floods have caused massive damage and death and the government of Madagascar on 25th January 2020, declared the floods a national emergency. The Government of Madagascar launched an appeal on January 24th to all national actors and international partners, to call for assistance to support emergency aid activities, early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. In this response, the two ACT national members will target approximately 5,000 Households along the West Coast of Madagascar within the sectors of WASH, Livelihoods and unconditional cash response. Madagascar_Flood Emergency MDG201
Multiple disasters hit the Philippines in the past 4 months affecting about 5.8 million people across eight out of its 17 administrative regions. The consecutive disasters since October 2019 has overwhelmed the capacity of the government to support the affected population. From the typhoon and volcanic eruption in Luzon, followed by the strong typhoon in Visayas, and the series of earthquakes in Mindanao, the affected population had struggled to meet their basic needs such as food, restore their lost assets and much more, recover from the devastating impact of these disasters. The poorest households from marginalized and vulnerable sectors bear the heaviest brunt of these disasters. ACT Alliance members' National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and World Renew (WR) will give assistance those most in need addressing food, WASH, shelter, and livelihood with an appeal budget of USD2,002,853 for one year. PHL 201 Multiple Disasters in the Philippines Appeal
The humanitarian crisis in Iraq remains one of the largest and most volatile in the world. The pace of displacement over the past four and a half years is nearly without precedent with more than 5.4 million people displaced since the rise of the Islamic State (IS). The 2019 Iraq Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) states 6.7 million people continue to be in need, and although 4.3 million people have returned to their place of origin, 1.7 million people remain internally displaced. At present 721,000 IDP’s and 241, 000 Syrian refugees reside within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) many of whom have remained in prolonged displacement since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011. In federal Iraq, Ninawa governate remains the most effected by the continued influx caused by the rise of IS. Furthermore, the current Turkish military intervention in North East Syria (NES) has caused further insecurity across the region. Critical high explosive contamination, severe infrastructure damage, psychological trauma among local populations and significant loss of livelihood opportunities continue to compound the traumatic effects of 8 years of brutal fighting. Act members: CA, DCA, HIA and LWF plan to support 38,964 beneficiaries directly affected by the Syrian Conflict and the rise of the Islamic state in Iraq addressing shelter/NFI, WASH, Protection/Psycho-social, Livelihood/Early Recovery, emergency preparedness and mine action sectors with a budget of USD 3,720,892. Appeal_ Iraq_Conflict-IRQ201
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 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/ |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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
Cyclone Amphan made landfall near Sagar Island in West Bengal, India, close to the Bangladeshi border around 5 p.m. local time with sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour (100 mph), according to the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Storm surge up to 5 meters (17 feet) is likely to occur along the coastline as Amphan continues to push inland across eastern India and Bangladesh. Heavy rain is also likely to lead to flash flooding across the region through Thursday morning. Once the storm pushes inland it will weaken significantly and is expected to dissipate by Friday. Disaster Alert estimated that about 6,483 people will be severely affected and about 10 million moderately affected. About 43 million people are exposed to the cyclone. Reports estimate that 3 million people have been evacuated before landfall in India and Bangladesh. Some people have been reluctant to move to the emergency shelters for fear of infection from COVID-19. By landfall, 12 people have died in India with expectations that there could be more as communications and electricity had been cutoff. Migrant workers, particularly those trying to go back to Odisha, have been affected as transportation systems have stopped. In Bangladesh, one man has died when a tree fell on him while another one went missing after his boat capsized. In India, CASA and LWSIT are planning to respond while CCDB in Bangladesh are already providing services to the affected communities. ALERT Bangladesh India Cyclone Amphan
On the morning of Tuesday the 14 March 2020, Egypt was aggressively attacked by heavy rainfall caused flooding in multiple populated areas, causing massive property damages. More than 1000 houses were totally/ partially demolished by the wild effect of the strong gush of water. Also, extensive areas of agricultural land were destroyed by the effect of the downpours. Means of livelihood and income were negatively impacted. The floods claimed more than 30 human lives including children. The ACT member (BLESS) is planning on submitting a Rapid Response Funding proposal to ensure that the floods affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards to Shelter/ NFI. Egypt_Floods_Emergency
In the afternoon of Saturday the 14 March 2020, the region of Sambava situated in the North East of Madagascar, was affected by a Cyclone (Herold). Only 8 weeks after the last devastating storm damaged the West Coast of Madagascar, the island was struck by cyclone Herold, on the North-Eastern coast. Cyclone Herold was accompanied by heavy rains causing fast-rising floods, landslides and large spread inundations. Both disasters have had fatal consequences, especially in remote areas, where houses and harvest were damaged and lost.” ACT Madagascar forum members are planning to provide 1 500 additional HH to the already existing ACT appeal MDG201 to ensure that the cyclone-affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards to improved access to safe water, provision of shelter and access to Food and Non-Food Items through distribution or most likely cash distribution. Alert_Madagascar_Cyclone
During the night of Tuesday the 18 February 2020, the province of Quispicanchis, Cusco and Huancané, Puno in Peru, was affected by hailstorm and heavy rains resulting in damage and loss of crops such as potatoes, corn, wheat, quinoa, fava beans, barley, edible plants that are the main sources of food and income. Additionally, houses and animal sheds have been affected in their roofs and walls, putting in danger the life and health of approximately 1,500 peasant families, especially the ones with children under five years-old and the elderly. This situation is continuing and has caused the collapse of some house walls and animal sheds, calamine's of the rooftop are broken allowing the downpour get into the houses and damaging mattresses and house stuff, and causing respiratory diseases in children and elderly people. Peru Floods Hailstorm and heavy rains in Cusco and Puno
On the morning of Monday 2 March 2020, the region of of Tumbes, Northern Lima, Ica, Junin, and San Martin in Peru, was notified with an increased endemic level of the Aedes aegypti, the main vector of the viruses Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya. The Epidemiology Offices of the Regional Health Directorates have reported the following number of confirmed cases per region: Ica, 27 cases; Northern Lima, 6 cases; Junín, 414 cases; Tumbes, 40 cases; San Martin, 664, cases. It should be noted that, in the first five weeks of 2020, there have been 12 deaths from dengue in and a total of 5,480 cases. Peru: Dengue outbreak
| On the morning of Tuesday, the 3rd March 2020 six out of nine regional states namely - Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Tigray and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’, as well as the administrative city of Dire Dawa, were affected by a desert locust invasion. The desert locust invasion if not controlled could cause large scale-scale crop, pasture, and forest cover losses. The Ethiopian government Ministry of Agriculture has conducted aerial control operations and treated 22, 500 ha but the scale of the problem is unprecedented since so far, the locusts have only been intercepted in 1,033km2. As control operations need to be scaled up, Ethiopia national Disaster Risk Management together with Ethiopia Agriculture Task Force in collaboration with FAO has initiated an assessment of the impact of the locust invasion in Ethiopia and findings would be shared mid-March 2020. ACT Ethiopia Forum is monitoring the situation and emergency teams are ready/preparing to respond according to the results of a contextual analysis and rapid needs assessment. Ethiopia_Desert Locust Infestation Alert |
During the night of Sunday 26 January 2020, the district of Kilwa in Lindi region, Tanzania was hit by floods caused by heavy rainfalls which continued for three days from 23rd to 25th January 2020. According to the local District Commissioner’s office, at least 7 persons have lost their lives. Rescue teams are using boats to save lives by relocating affected families to temporary camps mostly in school buildings. Tanganyika Christian Refugees Service (TCRS) a national ACT member is monitoring the situation and emergency teams are ready/preparing to respond according to the results of contextual analysis. Tanzania_Flood Alert
The Government of Madagascar has declared the flooding situation in Madagascar a national Emergency after heavy rainfall and flooding caused by a tropical disturbance affected nearly 107,000 people, displaced more than 16,000, and caused at least 31 deaths in Madagascar since 20th January 2020. The situation has led to massive floods, including a rapid rise of rivers with enormous water flow, corresponding landslides and massive destruction of the surrounding infrastructure (roads and bridges) and agricultural areas. ACT Madagascar Forum Member FJKM (The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar) which is the second-largest Christian denomination in Madagascar have mobilized their volunteer network and have started to respond. Madagascar_Flood Alert.
The Philippines has been seeing a succession of disasters since December 2019 that have so far affected about 5.7 million people across the country. Overall these have taken a significant toll on the capacities of the government and other actors to support the affected population. All three major island groups have been hit: typhoon and volcanic eruption in Luzon, typhoon in Visayas, and earthquake in Mindanao. Across these areas, it has been difficult for affected people to restore their assets particularly their homes and livelihoods. The government estimates that almost USD 2 million worth of agriculture have been affected and economic losses of more than USD60 million, and the situation is not expected to improve very soon. ACT Philippines Forum plans to submit a single Appeal for these disasters with NCCP as lead requesting member. The ACT Appeal will define a comprehensive and strategic approach for responding, considering the multiplicity of needs in a wide geographic location and mindful of the limited resources and capacities available within the ACT Forum. ALERT Philippines Multi Disasters
Head of Humanitarian Affairs
Global
niall.orourke@actalliance.org
Geneva, Switzerland
Regional Humanitarian Officer
Africa
Caroline.Njogu@actalliance.org
Nairobi, Kenya
Humanitarian Operations Manager
Global
Cyra.Bullecer@actalliance.org
Bangkok, Thailand
Humanitarian Programme Advisor
MENA
Amman, Jordan
Humanitarian Programme Officer
Latin America and the Caribbean
Bogota, Colombia
Finance Coordinator
Global
marjorie.schmidt@actalliance.org
Geneva, Switzerland
