Humanitarian

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.

We are active in more than 120 countries worldwide

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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ACT humanitarian mechanism

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.

EPRP platform

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.


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Location

Heavy torrential rains during the last few days have caused floods in North-Eastern states of India. The flood situation continues to remain grim in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.  As of the 24th of July, so far 7 people have died and over 600,000 people have been affected in Assam, while over 100 households in Arunachal Pradesh were rendered homeless. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported that over 50,000 people in 130 villages have been affected. About 1,039 villages in 14 districts have been affected by the deluge, with Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Laxmipurt, Goalpara and Tinsukia being the worst affected districts. So far, nearly 46,680 hectares of crop area have been inundated by flood water (Indian Express). RRFS_04_2016_Flooding_in_North_Eastern_State_of_Assam_India

ACT Alliance members Russian Orthodox Church /DECR/RTT (ROC) and Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) plan to continue their humanitarian support to IDPs in Ukraine and refugees in Russia to contribute to the alleviation of their suffering by addressing the most pressing needs in the sectors of Food Security, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Health (Psychosocial support) and Shelter and Non Food Items. The ACT Appeal UKR161 follows on the response to the ACT Appeal UKR152. Appeals_07_2016_IDPs & Refugees in Ukraine & Russia_UKR 161 x

People in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India have been struggling with one of the worst flood situations in their area, due to heavy rainfall for the past few days. Rivers are over flowing, washing away bridges, breaching embankments and marooning villages. The state capital of Bhopal city has also reported extensive water logging. The slum dwellers of the city have been the worst affected. According to media sources (Indian Express), an estimated 35 people have died so far (as of July 21) due to the floods and 9 persons are reported missing. Around 2,487 houses have been completely destroyed while 19,283 houses have been partially damaged. Preliminary Appeals_Flooding in Madhya Pradesh (India)

Now over a year since Burundi’s current crisis began, more than 140,000 men, women and children remain in refugee camps in Tanzania and are unable to return home. The situation inside Burundi continues to worsen.  A low intensity urban conflict is spreading progressively from Bujumbura to other provinces, resulting in targeted assassinations, torture, harassments and abuses.[1]  Coupled with an economic collapse brought on by the conflict, this makes it virtually impossible for displaced Burundians to return home safely. On average 100 refugees from Burundi are still entering  Tanzania every day while 140,448 Burundian refugees are currently living in Nyarugusu, Nduta and Mtendeli camps in Kigoma region. As many informants from UNHCR, INGOs and refugee leaders suggest, a quick solution to the current political crisis in Burundi and the short-term repatriation of refugees are unlikely. The current refugee situation is developing into a protracted crisis that will plausibly last for several years.   Preliminary Appeals_07_2016_Burundian refugee_crisis in Tanzania_TZA161    

Since the eruption of the Syrian conflict in 2011, about 4.2 million people have been displaced outside Syria. More than 20,000 Syrian refugees came to Armenia. The vast majority of them are of Armenian descendants from Aleppo. Other minorities such as the Yezidis and the Assyrians have also found refuge in Armenia. Furthermore, there are also approximately 1,000 refugees from Northern-Iraq in Armenia.   Currently, there are approximately 10,000 Syrian refugees registered as vulnerable and in need of humanitarian assistance in Armenia. Moreover, Armenia is among the countries in Europe with the highest per capita ratio of refugees/asylum seekers from Syria (6 Syrian refugees per 1,000 inhabitants). The lack of the governments’ ability to adequately address the needs of refugees in Armenia calls for local and international organizations to provide subsidiary support. The ACT Armenia forum plans to respond to the refugee crisis and to contribute to the dignity and resilience of refugees in Armenia, through its forum members WCC Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation (ART), United Methodist Committee on Relief Armenia Mission (UMCOR) and Ecumenical Loan Foundation in Armenia (ECLOF) by addressing the most pressing needs in shelter, livelihoods, psychosocial support and community resilience.   Appeals_07_2016_Refugee Crisis in Armenia_ARM161

Iraq has become increasingly unstable since 2013 due to the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), controlling one-third of the country. The oil industry provides more than 90% of government revenue. ISIS imposes a high cost on the economy, and increasing insecurity and financial instability have diminished the prospects for an improving economy and for attracting foreign investment. The sudden increase in displacement in early June 2016 reveals that the families are willing to take extremely high risks to try to escape, sometimes with grave consequences. Many people are separated from their families due to security screening. The UN estimates that thousands of families remained trapped inside Fallujah center. Most displaced people from Fallujah are taken to Ameriyat al Fallujah where the government of Iraq and the partners had prepared tents and water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in advance. These camps are now full and overcrowded, thus; there is a need to work for rapidly setup of similar camps in other nearby towns, namely Khalidiyah and Habbaniyah. Al Garma (Karma) district has also witnessed a high influx of IDPs that have fled Fallujah and its surrounding areas. In such situation, meeting humanitarian needs of these civilians should be the foremost important priority. IRQ151 Appeals -Second Revision- (11 July 2016)    

The drought caused by El Niño is one of the most severe in the history of Central America, surpassing in size and impact the situation faced in 2014. Despite mitigation measures, 4.2 million people in the dry corridor have been affected, of which more than 2 million are facing a humanitarian crisis as they are in dire need of immediate food assistance, health care, nutritional support, and recovery of livelihoods, among others. Appeals_07_2016_ Food Crisis in Central America_CAM161

On June 19, 2016 thousands of very dangerous and destructive Army Worms invaded towns and villages in the District of Zota in Bong County causing destruction of crops , contamination of drinking water and fleeing of residents. According to information gathered, 12 towns have been affected. In these towns and villages, people are unable to carry out their  farming activities due to overwhelming presence of these worms; more specifically, people who have contact with the worms develop abscesses(skin sores). If nothing is done to contain the spread of these worms, it can be expected that food insecurity and malnutrition and skin related complications will result because affected towns and communities will not be able to carry out farming and suffer from skin sores. The  assessment  team comprised of officers from County Health office, World Health Organization, Ministry of Agriculture and partners  visited five (5)  towns/communities of Kollieta (Zota Clan), Nyansue, Shankpallai, Larwai and Kolonta and saw Army Worms in mass on the leaves of several plants and destruction  on crops belonging to farmers and on trees along the rivers/creeks thus contaminating the drinking water.  Reports from farmers and local authorities of the communities not reached by the assessment team that include Managai, Bellelai, Killingai, Taota, Gbellai, Shiaka-ta and Bepahyea were also affected. In total, 4,323 and eleven (11) out of 16 communities are affected by Army Worm invasion. ACT Liberia forum through the Lutheran Development Service and Lutheran Church in Liberia are planning to support response efforts through provision of low-impact insecticide spray, distribution of food and provision of safe drinking water to the affected population in the District of Zota in Bong County. RRFs_06_2016_Army Worm Invasion in Liberia_RRF3  

South Sudan is facing violence since almost 16 months, steaming from a power struggle between the incumbent President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Dr. Riek Machar, which erupted on 15th December 2013 in Juba when Mr. Kiir accused Mr. Machar of staging a coup. Violence has since prevailed and is often breaking out along ethnic lines between Dinka and Nuer tribes. Besides the ongoing violence in the country, growing food insecurity further affects the people of South Sudan. Political negotiations to settle the conflict continued throughout the year 2014, following negotiations to cease hostilities in January 2015. Uganda continues to receive new South Sudanese refugees. The refugees are entering mainly through Elegu entry point Adjumani. A total of 206,337 South Sudanese have sought refuge in Uganda, with 132,004 now registered in Adjumani district[1], where the ACT Alliance member Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is concentrating its intervention. LWF has been focusing on the Adjumani District to offer humanitarian assistance to the refugees in the transit center and in the settlements during the 2014  and 2015 ACT appeal. As we continue to receive new refugees, all existing settlements in Adjumani have filled up prompting the UHNCR and Office of Prime Minister to open a new settlement in Latodo effective may 2016. As the signs of peace in South Sudan begin to materialise, as a sign of hope that would allow the refugees to return home in the near future it is important to focus on linking relief  and development (LRRD) by focusing on the promotion of sustainable livelihoods and self-reliance across all sectors of intervention. Taking this into consideration, LWF will focus on offering relief services to new entrant that will be settled in Latodo and then continue its LRRD efforts in Boroli, Nyumanizi, Ayilo I, Baratuku through the provision of Non-Food Items (NFIs), Livelihoods and Psychosocial support, as well as peace and conflict resolution in 2016 through revision and extension of appeal UGA 151, which is the second and herewith consecutive ACT appeal tackling the support of the South Sudanese refugee population in Uganda. Appeals_06_2016_ Adjumani Refugees Initiative Project_UGA151_Revision and Extension                  

A 7.8 earthquake (Richter scale) hit Northern Ecuador at 18:58 local time, Saturday 16 April 2016. The epicenter was 27 kilometers from the small coastal town of Muisne (west of the Province of Esmeraldas), with a depth of 20 kilometers. The worst damage was reported in the village of Pedernales, with a population of 55,000 people which was declared a "disaster zone". Access has been limited due to damages to infrastructure. The Government declared a “State of Exception” for 6 provinces: Esmeraldas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Guayas, Santo Domingo and Los Ríos. Authorities reports 663 dead (85 per cent in the province of Manabí), 6274 injured, 28,827 in temporary shelters and around half million people directly affected. Many buildings and roads destroyed or damaged. Eight shelters have been established: three in Esmeraldas, three in Babahoyo, two in Guayas, one in Santo Domingo, one in Portoviejo and one in Quito ACT Alliance will support 2,000 families in the Canton of Muisne, Province of Esmeralda with WASH, Community Based Psychosocial Support, (CBPS) and Non Food Items. Appeals_Ecuador Earthquake_ECU16

Due to the deteriorated situation in recent months in Gaza and West Bank; and as most of the international community donors have frozen their funds to the Palestinian government, including Israel, the United States, Canada, and the European Union after the formation of a Hamas-controlled government in 2006; the international donors’ support is a dire need to the Gaza and West Bank vulnerable population. Accordingly, ACT Alliance, through its ACT Palestine Forum (APF) members, have visualized and assessed the needs to continue its humanitarian assistance program to assist the vulnerable Palestinians in their homelands, reduce the suffering, and improve livelihoods of the affected population in Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Agricultural, Livelihoods Early Recovery, Protection, Psychosocial Support, Cash Relief, Health, Education, Job Creation, WASH, and Animal Raising/Fodder activities will be implemented. Appeals_05_2016_PSE161_Gaza West Bank  

Chad ranks 185 out of 188 on the Human Development Index and 6th on the Fragile State Index[1]. 55% of Chad’s population of approximately 13.2 million people live below the poverty line. OCHA’s Humanitarian Response Plan for 2016 indicates that four major crises directly affect 3.9 million people in Chad[2].These are: food security and nutrition, displacement, health emergencies and natural disasters. Floods, droughts and pests negatively influence agricultural activities, exacerbating food insecurity. Displacement has caused food insecurity and threatened the livelihoods of over 3.4 million people – refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Chadian host communities. Chad currently hosts more than 505,370 refugees (377,480 Sudanese, 100,000 CAR and 27,890 from other countries). The crises in Sudan and Central African Republic (CAR) affect Eastern and Southern Chad. They have been identified by DG ECHO in 2014 as a forgotten crisis. Since then, with global displacement increasing, awareness of and response to these crises has diminished. In 2003, the Darfur rebellion in Sudan resulted in a heavy influx of refugees into Chad. More than 367,000 Sudanese refugees have since crossed into the eastern provinces in Chad. ACT Alliance through LWF Chad office is planning to support the resilience efforts and restoration of livelihoods of the refugees from South Sudan, CAR and host communities by strengthening ongoing food security measures, promoting social cohesion amongst the refugees and host communities. Appeals_05_2016_Chad_TCD161  


No.
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Date | Time
Location

1 April 2015 - Seven months after unprecedented flooding in 2014, Jammu and Kashmir have again been lashed with heavy and incessant rains in the past 36 hours. Alerts_09_2015_Kashmir_Floods_Landslides

13 January 2015 - Flooding and heavy rains have affected 17 districts in the country. Four out of these districts have been heavily affected and include: Mulanje, Nsanje, Chikwawa and Karonga. ACT Forum in Malawi plans to respond in these four heavily affected districts.

Alerts 01_2015_Malawi_Floods

15 January 2015 - Chad is one of the poorest countries, ranking 184 out of 187 on the Human Development Index and 5th on the Fragile States Index. The country is affected by conflicts in neighbouring countries, notably Central African Republic, Sudan, Nigeria and Libya.

Alerts 02_2015_Chad_Assistance

27 February 2015 - Following the plethora of attacks orchestrated by Boko Haram in the north east of Nigeria and the Cameroon villages along the border with Nigeria, local populations have been forced to flee the massacres. Refugees from Nigeria and displaced people from the border areas started arriving in the north region of Cameroon in August 2014.

Alerts 04_2015_Cameroon_Refugees

15 March 2015 - Between Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March, category five severe tropical cyclone Pam hit the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. The cyclone was one of the strongest ever recorded in the Pacific islands with sustained winds of 270km/hr gusting to 360km/hr.

Alerts 05_2015_Vanuatu_CyclonePam

30 March 2015 - In February and March 2015 heavy rain and floods have struck upon the state of Acre, north region of Brazil, severely affecting about 80,000 people.

Alerts 08_2015_Brazil_Floods

6 May 2015 - Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) slammed into the eastern Philippines on November 8, 2013. The strongest typhoon recorded in history killed more than 6,300 people and caused catastrophic damages to 44 provinces, 57 cities, 591 municipalities, affecting more than 16 million people. Total damages were estimated to have reached $2.04 B, including major damages to the agricultural sector.

Alerts 12_2015_Philippines_Haiyan_follow_on

13 May 2015 - Following the July-September 2014 war on Gaza, the fragile humanitarian situation which left 2,209 people dead and more than 10,000 injured continues to deteriorate, seven months after the end of the war. This is coupled with the longstanding blockade.

Alerts 13_2015_Palestine_War_on_Gaza_Follow_on

29 May 2015 - Since 22 May the Colombian north‐east department of Arauca has experienced heavy rains creating emergency situations due to the floods caused by overflown rivers. In Saravena municipality a red alert has been published due to the level of severity of the situation.

Alerts 15_2015_Colombia_floods_Arauca

5 June 2015 - Thousands of Congolese refugees began pouring into Uganda from the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in early June, reportedly fleeing possible abduction, forced recruitment and rape by suspected Mai Mai and ADF militia groups (Allied Democratic Forces).

Alerts 16_2015_Congolese_Ref_Uganda

8 June 2015 - Heavy rains for the past week  in early June have left most parts of the capital, Accra, its suburbs and other cities flooded. Assessment carried out so far indicates that about 10 districts have experienced the effects of a severe flooding. Affected districts include Accra Metropolis, Ga South Municipal, Adentan Municipality, Cape Coast, Ashaiman Municipal, Kumasi Metropolis and Ketu South Municipal. On June 4, a fuel station in Accra exploded as a result of the floods, leaving an estimated 150 people dead.

Alerts 17_2015_Floods_Ghana

9 June 2015 - Yemen is facing its worse crisis in many years due to forces competing over control of the country. The country is divided between split affiliations which has created a severe situation where neighbouring states have interfered.

Alerts 18_2015_Refugees_from_Yemen_to_Djibouti

Team

Niall O’Rourke

Head of Humanitarian Affairs

Global

niall.orourke@actalliance.org

Geneva, Switzerland

Caroline Njogu

Regional Humanitarian Officer

Africa

Caroline.Njogu@actalliance.org

Nairobi, Kenya

Cyra Bullecer

Humanitarian Operations Manager

Global

Cyra.Bullecer@actalliance.org

Bangkok, Thailand

George Majaj

Humanitarian Programme Advisor

MENA

Amman, Jordan

Anyi Elizabeth Morales Mora

Humanitarian Programme Officer

Latin America and the Caribbean

Bogota, Colombia

Marjorie Schmidt

Finance Coordinator

Global

marjorie.schmidt@actalliance.org

Geneva, Switzerland