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 15^th 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  

Two massive 7.8 and 7.3 magnitude earthquakes struck Nepal on 25 April 2015 and on 12 May 2015.  The epicenters were in Gorkha and Sindhupalchowk Districts and were the most powerful earthquakes to hit the region since the Bihar earthquake of 1934.  The impact has been devastating, both in terms of loss of life and destruction of infrastructure.  According to the Nepal Government Ministry of Home Affairs, there were 8,891 fatalities, 22,302 injured, 604,930 homes totally destroyed, and a further 288,856 homes partially damaged. In addition, water supply and sanitation has been fully or partially disrupted for 4.2 million people (OCHA), 25,000 school classrooms were damaged or destroyed with 870,000 children unable to return to school (UNICEF), 1.4 million people needed food assistance in the first 3 months of the emergency (WFP), 10 hospitals and 600 smaller health facilities were damaged (WHO), and many roads in the disaster affected districts were damaged.  Many people’s livelihoods were destroyed through the loss of seed stocks, livestock, and standing crops. Additionally, large numbers of people continue to suffer psycho-social trauma from the death and destruction caused by the earthquake. The total value of the damages and losses caused by the 2015 earthquakes is estimated to be NPR 706 billion (approx. US$ 7 billion). In early January 2016, ACT Joint Monitoring Visit (JMV0 team  discussed and agreed the need for additional response time and a follow-up ACT appeal – NPL161. This Appeal has incorporated the JMV recommendations based on working sectors – WASH, Shelter, DRR, PSS, Education and Livelihoods. As one of the least developed countries, Nepal’s capacity to respond to the massive recovery and reconstruction needs is limited, and the government of Nepal has appealed to the international community to assist in this process. ACT Nepal Forum members which are DCA, FCA, ICCO, LWF, and LWR consequently planned to continue the following projects in responding to the emergencies through the NPL 161 - Nepal Earthquake Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (3R).     Appeals_Nepal Earthquake Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience_NPL161_3R  

On Friday, 15 April at 16:30 h. a tornado struck the city of Dolores, in Soriano Department. Dolores is 15 km. from the Uruguay River in the southwest of the country. No meteorological warnings were received. Dolores has about 20,000 inhabitants. The tornado, considered as Force 3, divided the city in two, from West to Northeast, destroying everything in its path in a swath 800 m. wide. Three schools, one daycare center, two public secondary schools, one technical institute and a hospital were seriously damaged by the storm, as were approximately 1,200 houses and other buildings. Some structures continue to be at risk of collapse. Electricity had not been restored at the time of this report (April 20), and no estimate is yet available as to when service will be restored. It is estimated that one third of the population has been affected. To date, 4 deaths, twelve persons missing and more than 500 injured have been reported. Most of the casualties were children who were in classes when the storm hit. Furthermore, the San Salvador River, on whose banks Dolores is built, has flooded because of heavy rains that have been falling for the last 20 days. This means that those who have suffered flood damage must be added to the number of people that have suffered death, injury or property damage because of the tornado. Houses located along the banks of the river, as well as those located in the river’s flood plain are under water. If the rains continue, both the tornado victims and the flood victims will have little chance of saving any of their household belongings. In addition, the flooding may lead to the spread of the water-borne diseases typical of these situations. Communication has not yet been restored; the tornado destroyed the communication tower of ANTEL, the state telecommunications provider. Cell phone batteries cannot be recharged because electricity is not available.   RRF_04_2016_Tornado in Uruguay_RRFs2  

The situation in Burundi remains volatile with increased reports of abductions and killings within the country’s capital, Bujumbura. Human Rights Watch has documented an alarming new pattern of abductions and possible disappearances, particularly since December, 2015. Many of those arrested or missing are presumed dead. Since the December attacks, the regime is further cracking down on the few dissenting voices that have not fled the country and its Imbonerakure militia is taking an ever more prominent position in the fracturing security forces. The refugee exodus continues neighboring countries at a rate of 1,000 arrivals per day. UNHCR estimates that 245,617 refugees have left their country since April 1^st 2015, with 129,748 in Tanzania, 73 867 in Rwanda, 21, 156 in Uganda and 20,846 in DRC.  The effects of prolonged instability continue to have a significant toll on Burundians who have remained in the country. Within Burundi, it is estimated that 25,081 have been internally displaced, many of whom have lost their means of livelihoods. In addition, severe hunger and malnutrition have begun to take hold to take hold. ACT Alliance members in Burundi are concerned about the deterioration of the situation in Burundi and the impact on the economy and their livelihood systems. The members (LWF, Christian Aid and NCA) are planning to respond through food and non-food items distribution, GBV and protection, social cohesion, WASH, agricultural support to communities to restore their livelihoods, ensure food security and instill resilience in the affected communities. Appeals_04_2016_Burundi Conflict Crisis_BDI161

Heavy fighting erupted between Armenian and Azerbaijan forces on 2 April along the southern, south-eastern and north-eastern parts of the line of contact in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. This is the largest fighting since the ceasefire agreement of 1994. As of 05.04.2016 official sources from the government of Armenia state that 29 soldiers and 3 civilians (among them a 12 year old school boy) have died and 101 are injured (including 2 children); and 28 announced for missing in action as a result of the fighting. Unofficial sources estimated this number to be higher. Seriously, wounded soldiers are being moved to Armenia. The fighting was most prominent near the villages of Agdere (Martakert), Khojavend (Martouni) and Hadrut (Hadrout). As a result, a total of 14,400 people are affected. According to ACT Alliance member, the Armenian Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation (ART), the majority of the population in the affected territories has been evacuated to the regional centres. People fleeing the conflict have been left with nothing but only the clothes they wear; and most of them also without documents.   RRFS_01_2016_Armenia_Azerbaijan_Nagorno-Karabakh-Conflict-RRF1

In Zimbabwe, food security has extremely been compromised by erratic rains in the 2015/16 season. According to the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZIMVAC) 2015, there is a nationwide cereal deficit of over 650,000 MT while an additional 350,000 MT will be required to feed livestock. This has put 1.5 million people at risk of starvation. The figure is currently being revised upwards following the current ZIMVAC lean season assessment, which has tentatively projected the “at-risk” population to 3 million. Highest levels of food insecurity are in the Midlands, Masvingo, Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North provinces.  As the 2015/16 lean season assistance programme comes to an end at the end of March 2016, an additional 1million people who had been receiving assistance through the from WFP and other development partners will immediately become vulnerable, thus ballooning the food insecure population to 4 million people. The ACT Zimbabwe forum through DanChurchAid (DCA), Christian Aid (CA) and other local implementing partners will contribute to immediate assistance of 62,380 beneficiaries through cash transfer programme to enable households buy food, emergency preparedness and planning through Community based DRR to better prepare for drought and promote resilience and food security by providing drought tolerant seeds to the affected provinces in Zimbabwe. Zimbwabwe Drought Appeals 2016  

This 2016 Darfur Programme (DP) Appeal has become the 13th annual appeal since the start of the Caritas Internationalis (CI) and ACT Alliance (ACT) collaboration, beginning in 2004. Since the start of this collaboration, the DP has been able to actively respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis that continues to erode the Darfur region. This erosion has left a majority of the Darfuri population in the midst of a vicious cycle; torn away from their homes – and having to call IDP camps their new home – being stripped of their livelihoods and living in poverty. It has been estimated by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) that this ongoing conflict has left nearly 3.3 million people internally displaced and 4.4 million people - including IDPs and the host communities - in need of humanitarian support and assistance (OCHA, October 2015). The numbers will inevitably increase throughout the year; however, 2015 has proven to be one of the worst years yet; pressure continues to be mounted on those existing camps and basic services. Recent years have shown that the ongoing nature of the Darfur crisis has created a steep deterioration of funding. After more than 10 years of conflict in the region – and with no foreseeable end in sight – donors have become discouraged and disenchanted by the idea of putting funds towards Darfur, and Sudan, in general. Thus, the DP has been negatively affected and, in 2014, was forced to reduce its budget twice throughout the year. It is for this reason as to why the 2015 year saw a much smaller scope and range of activities than previously. After having witnessed the incremental decline in funding across Sudan, the 2016 Appeal has therefore had to build out a budget which is much more realistic with the current donor trends.   APPEALS 2016 Narrative Cover Letter Darfur Appeal Budget 2016 Appeal 2016 Overall Logframe Final Appeal 2016 - Intervention Sectors  

The Mozambican government’s Disaster Management Technical Commission (CTGC) on January 16^th, 2016 announced an orange alert, only one step removed from the maximum state of disaster readiness, a red alert. The move was prompted by a combination of torrential rains north of the Zambezi and a severe drought in southern Mozambique. The soils in the north of the country are now saturated, and the weather forecast is for 300 millimetres of rain in the next 15 days in Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado provinces. In Cabo Delgado, the Messalo, Muagide and Megaruma rivers are now all at flood alert level. According to report by SETSAN (National Secretariat Food Security) published in January 2016, 176,000 people are facing worrying food insecurity, additional 575,000 people are at risk of food insecurity by March 2016, and 50,360 people are currently receiving food aid. The worst hit province is Gaza province, and the report indicates that about 77,375 people in Gaza province are currently facing stressed acute food shortages and require humanitarian assistance to help protect their lives, and additional 27,000 people are at risk to pass to this category. ACT forum in Mozambique is planning to attend to 8,940 households with  a total population of 47,570 affected communities through food distribution, WASH, Food security through improved agricultural practice and community managed DRR   Appeals_01_2016_Drought in Mozambique_MOZ161