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 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