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.
The Global Rapid Response Fund (GRRF) is an annual funding appeal administered by the ACT Alliance secretariat. The fund prioritises ACT local and national members in line with our localisation commitments and in recognition of the distinct advantage these members have in providing timely, high quality, locally led emergency response interventions. Funds for the RRF are provided by ACT Alliance members and non-members. The revised ACT Humanitarian Policy came into effect on 01 January 2022. The policy reinforces our commitment to the localisation agenda. The tangible changes in the Global Rapid Response Fund, introduced under the revised Humanitarian Policy, reflect the primary role that local and national members play in humanitarian response within our Alliance. ACT Alliance through its national members has been at the forefront of supporting local responses, often in contexts that may not always attract the attention of the media and donors. In such contexts, the impact of disasters at community level can be profound, and it is in such instances where the relevance and effectiveness of local and national actors and faith-based organisations, as well as the reach of ACT Alliance, is clearly demonstrated. The budget for this year’s GRRF is USD3,257,835, with last year’s balance carried over of USD1,484,913. The total request for funding for GRRF22 is USD1,772,922. The increased budget reflects the increased scope of the GRRF to include medium-scale crises, and the fact that funding will be accessed by more local members as the Appeal mechanism will be limited to large scale emergencies. GRRF22 Appeal
The Tigray conflict, which started on 4 November 2020, has spread to neighboring Amhara and Afar regions. The situation continues to be highly fluid and unpredictable, with ongoing fighting in multiple locations significantly impacting humanitarian access and hampering the quick response. Before the Tigray conflict, Amhara Region hosted about 900,000 IDPs due to ethnic conflicts emanating from different parts of the country. ETH 221 is a continuation and strengthening of what has been accomplished in ETH201 in the same region with the same conflict-affected people but with a wider geographic location. ACT Ethiopia Forum members EOC-DICAC, EECC-DASSC, LWF, NCA, HEKS, and DCA have launched an appeal to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable. Ethiopia_Emergency Response to Northern Ethiopia Crisis in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions.
Sudan has a long-standing tradition of hosting refugees. The crisis in Sudan has gradually evolved into a complex humanitarian situation characterised by localized armed clashes, intercommunal violence, displacement, max influx of refugees: Humanitarian partners estimate that about 14.3 million people – 30 per cent of the population – will need humanitarian assistance in 2022. This is a 0.8-million-person increase compared to 2021. Armed confrontations between federal and regional Ethiopian forces (Tigray region), started in November 2020 has led tens of thousands Ethiopian refugees to flee their home seek refuge in Sudan, through the states of Kassala, Gedaref, and Blue Nile. As of end of October 2021, about 58,000 refugees from Ethiopia sought shelter, protection, and assistance in Gedaref and Kassala States. Sudan continues to experience climatic shocks and hazards. In 2021, floods have so far affected 12 out of 18 states across the country, 55,700 people, destructed and damaged around 12,000 houses and an unconfirmed number of public infrastructures and farmland. The socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and political instability disrupted livelihoods of vulnerable households and aggravated food insecurity, malnutrition and protection risks. ACT Alliance in joint collaboration with Caritas Internationalis, with respectively the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and CAFOD acting as lead agencies, will be responding to support the Ethiopian Refugees and host communities in East Sudan, aiming to reach a total of reaching 16,500 individuals (49% female and 51 male) with a total budget of € 1,086765, targeting WASH, Energy and Environment sectors and Protection/ GBV support services. SDN221 ACT-Caritas Appeal
On 14 August 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Haiti at 8:30 am and Tropical Depression Grace passed over Haiti on Monday 16 August, resulting in flooding and landslides. The earthquake had resulted in at least 2 207 deaths, injured more than 12 268 in the country, while 320 people remained missing as of 21 August according to the Government of Haiti. Rapid assessments indicated that the earthquake damaged or destroyed 36 health facilities, 77 006 houses damaged, and 52 953 houses destroyed. The assessments in the most heavily affected areas in Grand-Anse, Sud and Nippes departments continue with at least 600 000 in need of assistance. Haiti has long been afflicted by multiple humanitarian challenges including recurring natural disasters, grinding poverty, armed gang violence, chronic and acute food insecurity, and the Covid-19 pandemic. These challenges provided a foothold for the 2021 earthquake which is the primary emergency for now. The crippling multidimensional social and humanitarian consequences will be felt for years. About five years after the tropical storm Matthew that hit southwestern and northwestern Haiti in 2016, the number of Haitians facing severe acute food insecurity has increased from 2.6 million in 2019 to 3.1 million people in 2020 in rural areas. Of those people, 1.2 million were facing emergency levels of hunger. In June 2021, an IPC analysis carried out by the National Coordination of Food Security (CNSA) projected that 4.6 million people need humanitarian assistance. ACT Haiti Forum is responding to the disaster through requesting members: Service Chrétien d´Haïti, Christian Aid, Church World Service, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, Lutheran World Federation/Norwegian Church Aid, World Renew with a budget of USD 3,615,859. HTI211 Haiti Earthquake Appeal_Revised_20220725
The Government of Kenya declared drought as a national disaster on September 8, 2021. The food security situation has been on a worsening trend in the Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) counties in Kenya attributed mainly to the poor performance of the October-December 2020 short rains and the March-May 2021 long rains. The UN (September 2021) issued a Flash Appeal of US$ 139.5 million targeting 1.27 million drought-stricken populations[1]. Resilience is significantly weakened through damage to household economies and health as people are forced to engage in negative coping strategies to overcome acute food insecurity. Four ACT Kenya Forum members have raised an appeal to reach the most vulnerable affected communities. Church World Service, Christian Aid, Lutheran World Services, and Anglican Development Services plan to support affected communities with food security, WASH, livelihood, and health services support. KEN211_Response to Drought.
On October 2, 2021, there was a fire of great proportions, starting at 3:00 a.m., lasting several hours, on the island of Guanaja, municipality of the department of Islas de la Bahia, insular area of Honduras, with an approximate population of 5,739. According to preliminary data from the Permanent Commission on Contingencies (COPECO), the damages registered are 2,500 people directly affected, 90 homes totally destroyed, 136 homes with severe damage and 3 injured are reported so far, these damages will increase when doing the last count; the economic damages have not yet been quantified; however, the suffering of many people can be appreciated; on the other hand, having been exposed to the gases caused by the fire can have repercussions on their health, in addition to other ailments. Comission de Accion Social Menonita (Mennonite Social Action Commission) (CASM) has accessed the Rapid Response Fund for their response. RRF 12 2021 Honduras fire
The second revision of ETH 201, is a result of a change in the geographical location of the Internally Displaced Persons. The Tigray conflict has now spilled over to the Amhara and Afar regions. The estimated Internally Displaced People (IDP) caseload in regions has reached 1.2 million. An estimated 1.7 million people are facing food insecurity in Afar and Amhara regions due to the spillover of the Tigray conflict. Access to food remains the highest priority and a major concern. The main commercial supply routes to Tigray have been cut off since November 2021, and the harvest season was impacted. Seven members of the ACT Ethiopia Forum have raised a joint revised appeal to meet the immediate needs of internally displaced persons namely the Ethiopia Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC), Ethiopia Evangelical Church of Mekane Yesus Development and Social Services Commission (EECMY-DASSC), Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Christian Aid Ethiopia (CA Ethiopia), Dan Church Aid (DCA) and Hilfswerk der Evangelischen Kirchen der Schweiz (HEKS/EPER). If for any reason you have difficulty accessing the website or cannot download the document, please do not hesitate to contact Caroline Njogu (caroline.njogu@actalliance.org) who will forward the document to you as an attachment. Ethiopia_Tigray-Conflict-response-Appeal-ETH-201_Second-revision
In Liberia, from January 2020 to July 2021, there have been 5,306 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 148 deaths, as reported by the World Health Organization. Liberia has administered at least 95,423 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that is enough to have vaccinated about 1% of the country’s population. Liberia is reporting 43 new infections on average each day, expressing a 23% peak — with the highest daily average reported on July 8th, 2021. Lutheran Development Services (LDS) and their local partner Christian Health Association Liberia (CHAL) and Liberian Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commission (RRRC) are planning to respond in the areas of health, WASH, and livelihood support to Ivorian refugees. LBR 211_Support to COVID-19 and Ivorian Refugees.
Going into its third year of severe economic recession, Lebanon faces its worst and hardest depression ever since the end of the Lebanese Civil War that went on for 15 years. Between the Syrian refugee influx crisis, street uprising, COVID-19 pandemic, dangerous depletion of resources, Beirut port explosion on August 4th, 2020, protracted absence of government and overlapping economic, financial and social crises, Lebanon grapples to survive on the edge of collapse. Lebanon has the world’s highest number of refugees per capita. The country hosts around 500,000 Palestinian refugees, 500,000 migrant workers from different nationalities and 1.5 million Syrian refugees of whom about 78 percent lack legal status (UNHCR) and 89% live below the extreme poverty line. ACT Lebanon forum members Christian Aid, DSPR and MECC will be responding through the this appeal to the crisis by providing assistance more than 25,000 beneficiaries directly affected by the dire situation targeting Shelter/ NFI’s, food assistance, Health, Protection/MHPSS, WASH, Early recovery/livelihood, Education and Cash assistance sectors, to ensure that the affected persons’ basic needs are met, with a budget of 1,748,003 USD. LEB211 Multi-sectoral Humanitarian Response
The sudden eruption of Mount Nyiragongo on 22nd May 2021 led to two lava flows towards Kibumba park as well as Buhene and Kibati in the North-East of Goma, DRC. At least 32 people died as a result of the eruption (either burned by the lava or asphyxiated by fumes), including three children. On May 27, 2021, the Military Governor of Goma made an official declaration requesting communities residing in the affected areas to vacate Goma to a safer region (Sake) in the Masisi Territory. The internal movement caused a massive displacement of the population of nearly 460,000. ACT DRC members, Bureau Œcuménique d'Appui au Développement (BOAD); Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo (EELCO), and Christian Aid (CA) alongside Church World Service (CWS) in Rwanda are planning to respond to the needs of the internally displaced in DRC and refugees in Rwanda. CEA211_Response to Volcanic Eruption in Goma.
Southern Madagascar is experiencing its worst drought in four decades with more than 1.14 million people food insecure (WFP, May 2021). Three consecutive droughts exacerbated by COVID-19 have left people in need of humanitarian assistance from January to May 2021 (Appel Éclair Madagascar-Grand-Sud Janvier-Mai 2021). Of those, an estimated 14,000 people are already in catastrophic conditions, known as IPC Phase 5, which is expected to double by October 2021. ACT national member SAF/FJKM will support 900 households with one cash distribution to last 2 months and also conduct sessions to enhance social protection towards women. Madagascar_Emergency Response to Drought
In the afternoon of Saturday the 22nd of May 2021, the town of Goma and its surroundings in North Kivu Province, experienced a sudden eruption of Nyiragongo volcano. While 32 persons are feared dead, at least 400,000 persons are currently internally displaced in DRC while 7,000 persons have fled to Rwanda as refugees. Access to basic health and education services in Goma is disrupted due to destroyed roads, electricity, and water supply networks. There is a likelihood of an outbreak of water-borne disease, many are still injured / suffering burns, while others are suffering from psychosocial stress. Two national members from DRC ACT Forum, BOAD, and ELCCo are planning to respond through rapid response fund support to meet the basic needs of the most affected and vulnerable. DRC_Emergency Response to Volcanic Eruption in Goma
In the afternoon of Saturday the 4 December 2021, the sub-districts of Pronojiwo and Candipuro in the district of Lumajang in East Java, Indonesia, was hit by volcanic eruption of Mount Semeru. As of 9th December, the government reported 43 people killed, 218 injured, and 5,205 people directly affected, with some 3,697 people who are displaced. UN OCHA recorded more than 300 government and non-government institutions that have provided relief assistance to the affected people . ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) reported 2,970 houses were damaged and thirteen public facilities . ACT Indonesia Forum members, PELKESI and YEU, will access ACT's Rapid Response Fund to respond to the disaster. ALERT Indonesia Volcanic Eruption
The worst drought in 40 years and rising food prices have resulted in high acute food insecurity in Angola. A recent IPC report shows that 1.58 million people are likely to be food insecure (out of which 416,600 people in IPC4) throughout the end of 2021 and until March 2022. The ACT Angola forum is planning to submit an Appeal to provide the much-needed emergency food and WASH-related support to affected communities. The agencies include Norwegian Church Aid, Lutheran World Federation- World Service, and Conselho de Igrejas Cristã em Angola (a national member). Angola_Drought
On the early morning of Saturday, the 14th of August 2021 at 8:30am, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the Southern peninsula of Haiti with Petit Trou de Nippes as the epicenter of the earthquake. The vibration was felt all over the country and as far as Jamaica. Aftershocks are still happening with more than three registering more than 6.2 magnitude in the Richter scale. About 1,297 deaths were initially reported and more than 5,000 people injured according to the civil protection direction (DPC). About 7,369 houses have been destroyed and 4,852 houses damaged in the three departments of the Sud, Grand Anse and Nippes. Several public buildings such as schools, churches, hotels, and private enterprises have also collapsed. More than 14,000 families have been affected in the three departments.). Some affected areas have lost access to electricity, communication, water, transportation access (by air and land), and in some cases, food sources. The Haitian government has started to deploy rescue and assistance to the affected areas. Tropical Storm Grace is also predicted to hit the country in the morning of the 17th of August 2021 making the situation worse. The storm may have devastating impact on the people already affected by the earthquake. While last month, Haiti’s president was assassinated, causing turmoil in the country. ACT Alliance is currently monitoring the situation and is supporting local partners to carry out rapid needs assessments in affected areas. Emergency teams are preparing to be deployed. The forum plans to raise an appeal pending their needs assessment analysis. Alert Haiti Earthquake
In Liberia, from 3rd January 2020 to 16th July 2021, there have been 5,306 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 148 deaths, as reported by the World Health Organization. Liberia has administered at least 95,423 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that is enough to have vaccinated about 1% of the country’s population. Liberia is reporting 43 new infections on average each day, expressing a 23% peak — with the highest daily average reported on July 8th, 2021. In Liberia, there is a misconception that traditional herbs will prevent/cure one of COVID-19, especially among the rural dwellers. As a result, there is apathy to seek much-needed medical attention in hospitals when symptoms persist. Unfortunately, this situation is exacerbated as hospitals have been turning away patients due to their lack of medication. Also, there is a need to support proper diet to expedite the recovery of patients. ACT Liberia Forum is planning to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable through an appeal. Liberia_Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
On Thursday the 15 July 2021, Indonesia entered the worst-case scenario in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. An additional 56,757 confirmed positive cases were reported. The capacity of government health facilities and isolation shelters government is incapable of coping with the increasing wave of positive cases. Hospitals located on the island of Java are over capacity, and the number of health workers exposed and dying continues to grow. The ACT Indonesia forum is planning on submitting a funding proposal to ensure that the epidemic affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards to access to health services for Covid-19 patients, access to vaccinations and health promotion education for the communities, strengthening of health facilities, and support for health workers. Alert-Covid-19 Emergency in Indonesia
On the morning of Monday 01 February 2021, the government of Myanmar was thrown into a political crisis. The ensuing waves of mass protest grew increasingly violent. The political crisis resulted in a collapse of public services and widespread armed conflict, impacting the lives of people living in urban centres as well as remote rural villages. Communities where many ACT Alliance partners are working face massive impacts as a result of the combined emergencies of armed conflict and COVID-19. Market systems and food production systems are disrupted due movement restrictions imposed to prevent spread of COVID-19 and related to the conflict itself. In some parts of the country, farmers are not planting rice this monsoon season (May – October) because they fear that this substantial investment will just result in their crops being confiscated by the combatants. The banking sector has been severely disrupted and people are very cash poor. Food prices have started to skyrocket. As of 01 June 2021, the situation has further deteriorated, and the needs have increased. Priority needs include food, shelter, and access to water and latrines. The lack of WASH facilities may lead to deadly diarrheal outbreaks and entire communities are vulnerable to COVID-19 because large numbers of displaced households are now sleeping together in crowded and poorly ventilated spaces such as churches and monasteries. Furthermore, cases of malaria have been reported among the displaced population sheltering in the jungle following the early arrival of the monsoons. Access to IDPs remains restricted due to ongoing fighting, remote muddy terrain, road blockages, and increasing landmine risks. Local partners and experts warn of a looming food security crisis if internally displaced persons (IDPs) are not able to return to their homes to tend to their crops and livestock. The full onset of the monsoon season in June will pose additional logistical challenges for humanitarian access. As the needs grow, local responders are increasingly stretched and require additional financial support to reach the most vulnerable among displaced communities. Alert Myanmar Complex Crisis
Tens of thousands of people are trying to escape the city of Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after authorities issued an evacuation order warning that Mt Nyiragongo volcano could erupt again. In the afternoon of Saturday the 22nd of May 2021, the town of Goma and its surroundings in North Kivu Province, experienced a sudden eruption of Nyiragongo volcano. Mount Nyiragongo is one of the world's more active volcanoes but there were concerns that its activity had not been properly observed by the Goma Volcano Observatory. At least 32 persons are feared dead, 40,000 people are currently internally displaced in DRC while 7,000 persons have fled to Rwanda as refugees. Access to basic health and education services in Goma is disrupted due to destroyed roads; electricity, and water supply networks. There is a likelihood of an outbreak of water-borne disease, many are still injured/ suffering burns, while others are suffering from psychosocial stress. ACT DRC national members BOAD and Eelco are working on a Rapid Respond fund request to respond to the life-threatening needs of displaced persons. CWS and Christian Aid are working on a regional appeal to respond to the needs of the internally displaced persons in DRC and refugees in Rwanda. DRC_ Volcanic Eruption.
As of 17 May 2021, a total of 198 Palestinian people were killed in Gaza, including 58 children and 35 women, and 1,300 people injured, including 313 children and 206 women according to the Palestinian Ministry of health. On the Israeli side, 10 people in Israel, including one soldier, have been killed and hundreds have been injured as a result of the escalating conflict between Israel and the Hamas. More than 47 education facilities, 132 buildings (commercial and residential), 316 housing units have been severely damaged, and rendered uninhabitable, about 206 housing units have suffered major damage, and 6,268 housing units have sustained minor damages leaving over 2,500 people homeless and more than 42,000 IDPs. This conflict came amidst and on top of the pandemic crisis and it’s economic predicament that will surly exacerbates the already fragile health and economic situation in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. The ACT Palestine Forum is planning on submitting an appeal to ensure that the affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards to Shelter/ NFI’s, food assistance, Health, Protection/MHPSS, CASH and WASH including the response to COVID-19. Alert- Conflict in Palestine
Second wave of COVID-19 in Nepal started from mid-April 2021 and the daily infection rate has intensely increased to almost 10,000 person per day from 300+ person per day within a month. There is no signal of slowing down of infection rate despite localized (district based) lockdowns called by the Government on 29th April 2021. Currently 72 districts (out of 77 districts) are under full lockdown situation. Nepal's Prime Minister has already called for international assistance to help them with this crisis. There is high influx of COVID-19 patients in national and provincial capitals and district headquarters, where large numbers of active cases are isolated in their own houses. The hospitals in district/provincial centres are already running out of oxygen, medicines, and medical supplies, and it is expected to further worsen and go out of control if the condition of in-house isolated case deteriorates and need of medical assistance increases. Nepal has limited production of medicines and medical supplies and largely depends on Indian production, and the supply from India market is totally disturbed as India is also affected by COVID-19. ACT Nepal forum plans to raise an appeal and aims to start it response in the coming weeks with a plan to reach at least 200,000 households in provinces 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The initial intervention will focus on supporting the health centres on emergency health support materials and equipment, communicating to the communities on COVID-19 prevention and control, increase access to health and hygiene facilities including COVID vaccine preparedness initiatives. Community based psychosocial service (CBPSS) will be mainstreamed in its intervention. ACT response will also support government and community run heath institutions to render quality and efficient health services to the infected cases. Cash based intervention (CBI) will be undertaken where feasible and applicable. Alert Nepal Covid Crisis
India’s total number of COVID-19 cases has dramatically risen to over 18 million as of 29 April, with more than 300,000 cases reported for seven straight days and with no immediate signs of slowing down. These have been the highest numbers of reported cases and deaths since the pandemic started, and medical experts believe that the numbers are even higher with many cases not reported from rural areas. The reported national fatality rate is at 1.11%, with medical supplies running out especially oxygen, and that people have been resorting to the black market. Hospitals and crematoriums alike are overwhelmed, and hotels and railway coaches are being converted into critical care facilities to make up for the shortage of hospital beds. It is predicted that after Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, will emerge as the next COVID-19 hotspot in the country. The state may report over 1.9 million daily cases by the end of April. Maharashtra and Gujarat in the west, Haryana in the north, and Madhya Pradesh in central India are all facing an oxygen shortage. In the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, some hospitals have put "oxygen out of stock" boards outside, and in the state capital Lucknow, hospitals are asking patients to move elsewhere. ACT India Forum has convened and agreed to raise an appeal, and the initial intervention will be to support people that are sick at home or quarantined with cash to buy their medicines and other emergency needs. Implementing members will also focus on communicating to the communities about infection prevention and control including information on vaccines, and they will be working with churches and other faith leaders to this end. A Global Coordination Call is being organized by the ACT Secretariat on Monday, 03 May 2021 to understand the needs and coordinate a timely and efficient ACT response. Alert India Covid-19 Crisis
On Sunday morning, April 4, 2021, flash floods and landslides caused significant damage in 11 districts of East Nusa Tenggara: Flores Timur, Malaka, Lembata, Ngada, Alor, East Sumba, Sabu Raijua, Rote Ndao, South Timor Tengah, Ende, and Kupang city. In Timor-Leste, over 76 percent of the affected population are in Dili, the country's capital. Indonesia National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) reported around 55 casualties and 24 people missing in Indonesia and several areas are still submerged by floods and mud. UN agencies reported about 12,980 people were affected in both Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Seven other municipalities were affected in Timor-Leste with 21 reported casualties. A total of 256 people were evacuated in the East Flores area. Seventeen houses were washed away, and 60 houses were submerged in mud, with five bridges became inaccessible in three affected villages. In East Sumba District, 54 households or 165 people were displaced, while another 109 households or 475 people were affected by the flood, and 19 villages were affected. In Malaka District, 22 villages are inundated by flash floods, and yet so far still no further information for any victims that has been recorded, but most of the community is still flooded. ACT Indonesia Forum (ACTIF), through Indonesia Christian Association for Health Services (ICAHS/PELKESI) and YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU), plan to respond in East Nusa Tenggara through ACT Alliance’s Rapid Response Fund (RRF). PELKESI is supported by their local partners, CD Bethesda, GKS Synod, and Lindimara Hospital. They are conducting their rapid assessment and plans to provide health services, shelter materials, food, drinking water, and protection services. YEU has started distributing materials to provide soup kitchens in Flores in collaboration with the local church, GMIT Synod. Church World Service is responding in Dili, Timor-Leste using their own funds initially distributing hygiene kits and household cleaning items to help the affected residents. ALERT Indonesia and Timor Leste Flash Floods
Going into its third year of severe economic recession, Lebanon faces its worst and hardest depression ever since the end of the Lebanese Civil War that went on for 15 years. Between the Syrian refugee influx crisis, street protests, COVID-19 pandemic, dangerous depletion of resources, Beirut port explosion on August 4th, 2020, protracted absence of a functional cabinet and overlapping economic, financial and social crises, Lebanon grapples to survive on the edge of collapse. The ACT Lebanon Forum is planning on submitting a funding proposal to ACT Secretariat to ensure that the affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards targeting Shelter/ NFI’s, food assistance, Health, Protection/MHPSS, WASH including the response to COVID-19, Early recovery/livelihood, Education and CASH assistance sectors. Lebanon Crisis- Alert
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
