On the evening of Wednesday, November 6, 2024, Hurricane Rafael (Category III on the Saffir-Simpson scale) struck the western part of Cuba, passing through the provinces of Mayabeque and Artemisa and causing significant damage to urban infrastructure and agriculture. The hurricane also caused collateral damage in Havana Province. Sustained winds exceeding 185 km/h and torrential rain battered these areas, including the cities of Artemisa and Bauta. This disaster occurred amid an unprecedented national energy crisis, characterized by repeated disconnections of the national electrical system, which left the entire country without power for several days. As of November 8, 2024, the situation is still not fully resolved, and parts of the country, especially in the western provinces, remain partially or entirely without electricity.

The hurricane’s impact came at a time when Cuba was already facing an unprecedented economic and humanitarian crisis, marked by food and resource shortages, continuous daily blackouts, and limited access to medical supplies. Since December 2022, reports indicate an exacerbation of staple food shortages. Approximately 80% of the basic food basket for the Cuban population relies on imports, costing over $2 billion USD. The main imports—wheat, rice, beans, corn, soybeans, chicken, and oil—could potentially be produced domestically if sufficient funding and a coherent production strategy were available at the local and territorial levels. As of Sunday afternoon, approximately 200,000 people in Artemisa and Bauta remain without power and water as emergency crews continue repairs. Electricity and phone services were also destroyed. There are no fatalities reported. Hurricane Rafael is the strongest storm to strike this part of Cuba in nearly 80 years.

Hurricane Rafael’s slow movement for 12 hours brought heavy rainfall and strong winds that caused flooding, severe infrastructure damage, and road blockages affected 11 municipalities in Artemisa. The preliminary data records damages, including total or partial collapses, in more than 5,500 homes, including 4,933 in Artemisa and 660 in Mayabeque. In Havana, 461 collapses are reported, both total and partial, of which 99 were in the housing sector. As of November 8, an estimated 83% of Havana’s residents remain without power. In the city of over two million people, only about 100,000 have access to water by gravity, while the rest rely on pumping stations that require electricity. Severe impacts on the agricultural sector of Artemisa and Mayabeque, the main food producers in Havana. Preliminary reports suggest significant damage to banana, cassava, rice, bean, vegetable, corn, and soybean crops, as well as to poultry and pig farms. The lack of power has hampered local information dissemination and preparedness efforts, further complicating response activities.

The CCRD-Cuba, in coordination with implementing partners will be providing emergency response in WASH, PSS, NFI, Food/Nutrition and Shelter to affected population in Aretemisa and Bauta. It has been foreseen that this response would last 6 months.

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Tropical Storm Sara severely impacted Central America, posing a critical threat to Honduras due to heavy rainfall and widespread flooding following its landfall late on November 14. The storm made landfall approximately 100 miles west-northwest of Cabo Gracias a Dios, on the Honduras-Nicaragua border, with sustained winds of 45 mph and a westward movement of 10 mph. Torrential rains across the region have significantly heightened risks, with forecasts predicting up to 30 inches of rainfall in northern Honduras. These conditions are expected to result in dangerous flash floods and mudslides, particularly in vulnerable areas such as the flood-prone Sula Valley . The emergency in Honduras is escalating, especially in the departments of Atlántida, Yoro, and other heavily impacted areas. A national emergency has been declared under decree PCM-35-2024, published on November 15 in the official newspaper La Gaceta (Number 36,690). This declaration establishes a 30-day emergency for areas identified by COPECO as severely affected by Tropical Storm Sara.

According to the National Report on the Impact of Tropical Storm Sara (November 14–19, 2024) , the storm has impacted 45,531 families, totalling 144,144 people. Among them, 7,184 people are taking shelter in government-designated emergency centres, while others have sought refuge with relatives or friends. At the level of all departments under red alert, there are 2,379 isolated communities where the status of the population remains unknown due to inaccessibility, further exacerbating the situation. The most vulnerable families have been disproportionately affected, primarily due to inadequate infrastructure, soil saturation, and road collapses. These factors have significantly increased their exposure to additional risks. Damage to road infrastructure, including the collapse of bridges and the obstruction of key roads, has severely hindered access to many affected communities. This has delayed critical rescue and relief operations, complicating the delivery of assistance to those in urgent need.

Tropical Storm Sara has caused widespread devastation across Honduras, severely impacting multiple regions. In Cortés, strong winds and heavy rains displaced families and caused significant structural damage. In Atlántida, flooding left over 7,000 people isolated as landslides and road obstructions cut off access to essential services. In Colón, flooding affected more than 7,000 people, with extensive damage to homes, roads, and bridges, leaving many communities inaccessible. Yoro faced rising waters that displaced over 2,100 people, while blocked transportation routes further hindered relief efforts. Gracias a Dios experienced severe river overflows, isolating communities and affecting over 7,600 people, particularly in Puerto Lempira. In Choluteca, flooding displaced 1,200 people and caused significant structural damage, while in Valle, nearly 500 people were affected as critical roads were submerged, cutting off access to affected areas. These widespread impacts underscore the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian assistance to address the needs of displaced and isolated populations.

CASM plans to provide emergency response to 1,200 families (4,800 individuals, including 2,496 women and 2,304 men) over a three-month period, focusing on the sectors of WASH, Food Security, and Nutrition.

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Colombia hosts almost three million Venezuelan migrants as of February 2024, making it the largest recipient of Venezuelan migrants and refugees. This represents one of the largest displacements globally, second only to Syria. Approximately 7.7 million people have left Venezuela following the collapse of its economy. South America has also experienced an increasing influx of Haitian migrants since the 2010 earthquake, which displaced an estimated two million people. More recently, Haitian migration has been driven by escalating violence and poverty. Ecuadorians form the second-largest group of migrants and refugees in the region after Venezuelans, migrating primarily to Central America and the United States, largely for economic reasons (IDB – OECD, 2024).

Colombia has also become a transit country for irregular migration, serving as a corridor for individuals seeking to move northward. Many of these migrants are fleeing conflict, natural disasters, or a lack of opportunities for a dignified life in their countries of origin. In 2023, nearly 540,000 people crossed the Darién Gap—the dense jungle between Colombia and Panama—with most originating from South America, followed by migrants from the Antilles and Asia. By September 2024, Migración Panamá reported that 263,296 people had crossed the Darién Gap. The border zone spans from the Chocó region in Urabá, particularly Acandí, to areas in Antioquia such as Necoclí, Turbo, Carepa, Chigorodó, and Apartadó.

The municipalities in the Urabá region are struggling to cope with the influx of migrants, which has overwhelmed basic services while receiving insufficient humanitarian support. Immediate, coordinated efforts are critical to address urgent needs, including food, safety, and access to essential services.

Protection remains a top priority, as vulnerable populations require immediate assistance, particularly safe spaces for those at risk. The lack of facilities for victims of trafficking and gender-based violence highlights the urgent need to support women, children, and adolescents. Armed groups operating in border areas exacerbate risks, including sexual violence, forced labor, forced recruitment, and human trafficking. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 536 migrant deaths were reported in the Darién Gap between 2015 and 2024, with 172 occurring in 2024 alone. Accounts from survivors suggest there is significant underreporting of deaths and disappearances.

While the influx of migrants has brought higher incomes for host communities through foreign currency, it has also driven up the cost of goods and services, creating additional barriers for migrants in transit. Basic necessities, including affordable shelter, remain out of reach for many. For example, the cost of using a shower can be as high as USD 5 per person.

Since November 2023, IELCO has been active in the Urabá region of Antioquia, specifically in Turbo. Through a partnership with the local Presbyterian Church, IELCO has served 4,017 people—2,202 men, adolescents, and boys, and 1,815 women, adolescents, and girls—highlighting the pressing needs in this region. To continue addressing these challenges, IELCO plans to activate the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) to provide protection services to 4,000 migrants over a five-month period. These services will include emergency case management (such as shelter and transportation), distribution of protection kits (including hygiene supplies, food, and GBV response materials), life-saving information on safe routes, psychosocial support, and safe spaces for children and adolescents.

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Severe Tropical Storm Trami (locally named Kristine) wreaked havoc across multiple regions, triggering widespread flooding and landslides. From October 22 to 23, Trami lingered near the Bicol Region (Region V), delivering an unprecedented and record-high 525.5 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours. This torrential downpour triggered devastating flash floods and landslides, resulting in 62 fatalities in the region alone.

In less than a week, Super Typhoon Kong-Rey (locally named Leon), with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h and gusts up to 240 km/h, entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on October 27. Signal No. 5 was raised over Itbayat and Basco as the typhoon brought “violent conditions” while passing close to Batanes. The storm caused extensive damage across the province, still reeling from Typhoon Krathon (Julian) just a month earlier. STY Kong-Rey also triggered storm surges in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, and battered the Mountain Province with strong winds, displacing families and damaging homes.

As of November 4, more than 8.6 million people (2.2 million families) have been affected with the combined effects of STS Trami and STY Kong-Rey across 17 out of 18 regions in the country. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), at least 711,149 persons have been displaced which are either staying in government-designated evacuation centers or seeking temporary refuge with their friends or relatives. While the Department of Social Welfare and Development has reported 8.7 million people affected from the Bangsamoro Region in Mindanao to the northernmost part of Luzon in Batanes.

ACT Alliance member National council of Churches in Philippines is already on the ground and planning to extend support the affected communities. NCCP is planning to launch an appeal to address the urgent needs but also focus on the recovery and rehabilitation in the areas.

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The Southwest Monsoon brought light to moderate rains in the Philippines since 11 July 2024. However, this was intensified by the Tropical Depression (TD) Prapiroon (locally named Butchoy) that entered on July 19, and traversed Southern Luzon. While TD Prapiroon left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on the next day, it still strengthened the impacts of the monsoon rains. It was then closely followed by Typhoon Gaemi (locally named Carina) that entered the PAR on July 21. It intensified as it moved north-westward across Luzon to the West Philippine Sea from July 22 to 23.

The impacts of the Southwest Monsoon, enhanced by TD Prapiroon and TY Gaemi, brought intense to torrential rains and devastating floods over the majority of Luzon, and some parts of Visayas and Mindanao.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) a total of 183,64 families or 882,861 individuals affected in 686 villages in 15 administrative regions. From which, 35,388 persons are evacuated in government-designated evacuation centers, while 576,936 persons are outside evacuation centers. The Council also reported eight deaths, two injured, and one missing.

The initial findings from the rapid assessment underscored the following needs: Food, potable water, Cleaning materials, Shelter repair kits, Psychosocial intervention.

The NCCP plans to respond to the immediate needs of the communities through Food, WASH, Unconditional Cash Transfer, and shelter repair kits in coordination with the regional ECUDREAMCs and member churches in areas of Region IV-A (CALABARZON) – Cavite, Rizal, and Batangas, Region III (Central Luzon) – Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, National Capital Region (Metro Manila) – Navotas City, Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) – Romblon.

Alert-NCCP Southwest monsoon and TY Carina

El Salvador has experienced heavy rains since June 14, resulting in 13 deaths and widespread flooding, prompting a 15-day State of Emergency. The General Directorate of Civil Protection in El Salvador has issued a series of progressive alerts in response to the ongoing tropical storm. The alert levels began with Green and Yellow on June 13, escalated to Orange on June 14, and reached Red on June 16, reflecting the increasing severity of the situation.

As of June 20, orange alerts are in place for 18 municipalities, and red alerts for 26 municipalities due to saturated soil and rising river levels. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN in Spanish) reports two low-pressure systems bringing heavy rainfall from the Pacific Ocean, forecasting ongoing urban flooding, flash floods, river overflows, landslides, and rockfalls.

The Hydrological Forecast Center warns of severe urban flooding, river overflows, and widespread inundation. Between June 14 and 20, rainfall reached a maximum of 680 mm in Ahuachapán (West) and 604.8 mm in San Miguel (East). The probability of overflows remains high in several rivers and hydrographic regions.

According to the Situation Report No. 7 from the General Directorate of Civil Protection, the recent tropical storm has affected 4,045 people in El Salvador. The disaster has resulted in 13 fatalities, 12 injured people, and 2 missing people. Currently, 3,893 people are taking refuge in shelters, while 125 individuals have been evacuated but remain unsheltered. The report highlights the significant impact on the population and underscores the urgent need for ongoing support and resources.

121 shelters have been established, with 112 currently active, serving 1,508 families, including people with disabilities and pregnant women. Reports indicate 589 instances of damage to vital infrastructure, 312 affected homes, and 893 additional incidents. Humanitarian needs include food, hygiene kits, clothing, sanitation products, and items for babies and pregnant women.

Due to the Jalponga river overflow, communities such as Hoja de Sal, El Pito, El Recuerdo, and Río Viejo in Santiago Nonualco district have been heavily impacted, leading to the establishment of shelters in the Communal House and the Hoja de Sal Educational Complex, evacuating 20 families. In Villas de San Pedro, the Community Center is now a shelter, and in San José Luna, the Communal House has been enabled due to the Jiboa River overflow, affecting roads and homes, leading to the evacuation of 32 families.

As per official reports and initial community monitoring, food security is a primary concern due to significant crop losses and disruptions to livelihoods such as informal trade and artisanal fishing. It is imperative to enhance protection and response measures within the food security sector, prioritizing physical safety and promoting community resilience against future climate events.

Most pressing needs have been identified in the sectors Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Protection (to prevent GBV), Food Security and Livelihoods. The ACT Forum El Salvador members (the Lutheran Synod of El Salvador and ALFALIT), are seeking to provide humanitarian support in the following sectors:

• Cash for food security and livelihoods
• Community-Based Psychosocial Support (CBPS)
• Protection (preventing gender-based violence (GBV) and providing psychosocial support services to survivors)

Their plan involves activating the ACT Humanitarian Mechanism via a Rapid Response Fund (RRF) to reach 875 families in the 10 most affected districts, totaling 3,250 people (approximately 1,950 women and 1,300 men).

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