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).

20240623_Alert_El_Salvador_Floods

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a heatwave alert for much of the country, with particular emphasis on Punjab and Sindh provinces. According to an NDMA announcement on Thursday, heatwave conditions are expected to develop over most regions starting May 21, escalating to severe heatwave conditions between May 23 and May 27. The forecast includes three separate heatwave spells: the initial one lasting two to three days, followed by a second spell towards the end of May lasting four to five days, and a third spell in early June lasting three to five days.

The geographical areas affected include most parts of Pakistan, with a focus on Punjab and Sindh provinces. Specific districts in Sindh, such as Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar, Badin, and Khairpur, are particularly impacted during the second heatwave spell. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain 4-8°C above normal in these regions, exacerbating the conditions. 

Immediate health risks include heat strokes, heat cramps, and aggravation of existing health conditions, potentially leading to fatalities. The demand for medical services and cooling centers increases significantly.

Establishing heatwave treatment and facilitation centres for communities is essential but beyond their capacity. Given the similar situation across at-risk districts, urgent support from humanitarian organizations is imperative. Immediate requirements include fully-equipped facilitation centres staffed with paramedics for providing first aid treatment. There is also a pressing need for community awareness campaigns to prevent direct sun exposure, dehydration, and the provision of flexible labour hours.

Community World Service Asia (CWSA), in collaboration with district authorities, intends to establish six heatwave centres or camps in Umerkot district for a duration of four months. These facilities include a central site in Umerkot city, three additional camps at health facilities already supported by CWSA projects i.e. Government dispensary Ramsar, Government Dispensary Jhamrari, and Government Dispensary Cheelband and two more location will be identified for heat wave facilitation centres in consultation with district government.

ACT Alert (Pakistan Heatwave Emergency) _ 2024

Since April 29, Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, has experienced heavy rains that flooded 452 municipalities. As of 15 May 2024, these floods have affected more than two million people, where 538,126 displaced with 76,588 in shelters, about 806 have been injured, 149 confirmed deaths, and 108 missing persons (Civil Defense Bulletin of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Issued on the 15^th of May 2024).

In Porto Alegre, the Metropolitan Region, and the Vale do Rio Pardo, heavy and constant rains began in early May, prompting public authorities to declare a state of public calamity on 2^nd May. The situation worsened on May 13, with a resurgence of rains and rising river levels, leading to the evacuation of many who had returned to their homes. Porto Alegre, with 1.3 million inhabitants, has 157,000 affected people.

This flood is the largest in the history of Rio Grande do Sul. By Monday, May 13, rainfall in Porto Alegre reached 341.7 millimeters for the month, exceeding the average May rainfall of 113 millimeters (National Institute of Meteorology Inmet). According to the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFGRS), the main concern at the moment is the further rise in levels due to rainfall and wind effects. All scenarios projected by the Institute of Hydraulic Research (IPH-UFGRS) for the next week indicate a prolonged rise in the Guaíba’s water levels, with a subsequent peak expected to exceed 5 meters.

The economic impact is significant, characterized by substantial damage to critical infrastructure and disruptions to food and water distribution systems. Over a million households are currently experiencing water shortages, and the isolation of Porto Alegre poses a threat to agriculture, which is vital to the state’s economy. Authorities have issued warnings of imminent food shortages and price increase that could have ripple effects across the nation. Please see the infographic of this disaster on https://reliefweb.int/report/brazil/maior-catastrofe-climatica-do-rs-abril-maio-de-2024-pt

Communities are devastated. The affected population has lost their homes, belongings, and livelihoods. Among the most affected populations are women from solidarity economic enterprises and their families, the majority of whom are women who already lived communities deeply affected by economic and social inequalities and in high-risk areas. 2,500 informal recyclable waste collectors, including women, lost their livelihood due to the floods in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre and the Vale do Rio dos Sinos. Many of them had their homes, which are also their workspaces, completely flooded and left in a hurry, leaving everything behind.

Households dependent on family and agroecological farming have had their properties flooded, losing production, many animals, and machinery, mainly in the Vale do Rio Pardo region. In quilombola communities (communities of descendants of Afro-Brazilian slaves who escaped from slavery in colonial Brazil and formed their own settlements), the situation is serious. Many are still stranded, without access to water, energy, and food. In the Machado Quilombo and the Quilombola Front of Rio Grande do Sul, a quilombola leader categorically stated that “97% of the area is a total loss.”

For this emergency, the Lutheran Foundation for Diaconia (FLD) is seeking, jointly with community associations, to provide direct emergency response to 500 families (over 2,500 people) in the sectors of food security (delivery of food items), WASH (delivery of cleaning and hygiene products), and Community-based Psychosocial Support (CBPS). As a context, a humanitarian corridor has been established in the city to transport essential items such as food, water, and medicine. Access to the humanitarian corridor for transporting food and essential items is granted to community associations, in coordination with the municipality. This enables the identification of the most needed items and ensures their delivery to the affected population, including the most vulnerable.

ACT Alert Brazilian Floods 2024

Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi are some of the most drought affected Southern Africa countries having received less than 20% of the typical rainfall expected during the last season. The poor rains have been attributed to the on-going El Niño Southern Oscillation effects (World Weather Attribution).

On 23^rd March 2024, Malawi government declared a state of emergency in 23 out of 28 drought affected districts (afrinews) , in Zimbabwe on 4^th April 2024 the president of Zimbabwe declared the drought situation in Zimbabwe to be a national disaster (BBC) while in Zambia and the drought was also declared a national disaster on 29^th February 2024 as 84 out of 116 districts nationally have been affected (afrinews) by drought induced El Nino effects.

ACT Forum members in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia are planning to respond to the people affected by drought.

SAF 241 Drought Response

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 02:35 WITA, Mount Ruang in Sitaro Regency, North Sulawesi, Indonesia erupted with a maximum amplitude of 55 mm and a temporary duration of ± 10 minutes. This eruption was a continuation from the April 16 eruption.

Based on the government’s report and initial assessment, recently, the disaster indicates a moderate impact and is categorised as medium-scale emergency. Around 20,000 people from 12 villages in Tagulandang Resort are greatly affected by this eruption. Communities within a radius of 4-6 km from Mount Ruang have evacuated independently, including those from Bahoi Village, Balehumara Village, Barangka Pahe Village, Mahangian Village, Tulusan Village, Lesa Village and Lesa Rende Village. People were displaced in Sitaro Regency and North Minahasa Regency.

Volcanic ash covered the roads and houses by 2-5 cm, hampering the activities of the community. It also covered several airports around the North Sulawesi region including Sam Ratulangi Manado Airport, Djalaludin Gorontalo Airport, Melonguane Airport, Siau Airport, and Naha Airport, causing access to the North Sulawesi region to be impassable by air for the next couple of days.

According to initial assessments, Food, NFIs, Health and protection are the main needs for the people in the IDPs camps. The ACTIF forum members PELKESI, YEU and MBM are operating in the areas and are planning to respond the emergency through the RRF mechanism.

Indonesia_Alert_Mt. Ruang volcano Eruption May 2024

The Philippines is currently facing a catastrophic drought, one of the slow-onset effects of climate change, along with other climate impact drivers such as rising sea levels, increased precipitation, stronger wind patterns, and typhoons. This catastrophic drought is driven by the 2023-24 El Niño, which is, according to the United Nations weather agency, one of the five strongest on record. 

 Climate Change Commission defines Drought as a decrease of 21 to 60 percent in rain occurrences for five consecutive months, or below normal rainfall conditions for three consecutive months. Additionally, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geographical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported on March 25 that 37 provinces have experienced drought conditions (3 consecutive months of way below normal rainfall conditions/more than 60% reduction from rainfall average), 22 provinces with dry spell (3 consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition/21%-60% reduction from rainfall average) and 12 provinces with dry condition (2 consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition).  

 Five (5) provinces declared a state of calamities due to the worst effects of drought in their area, namely Occidental Mindoro (IV-B), Negros Occidental (VI), Sultan Kudarat (XII), and Maguinadanao Del Norte, Maguindanao Del Sur (BARMM). Besides these provinces, 34 local government units also declared a state of calamity. 

According to the data released by the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC), as of 24 April 2024, there were 531,114 families or 2,283,636 persons affected in 3,053 villages in 11 Regions.

Food and other livelihood support is the main need of the time. It is expected that the need for food and livelihood support in the affected areas is going to increase. 

Alert Note by NCCP_Drought Situation in Philippines

The escalating conflict in Gaza that started on the 7th of October has impacted the whole Middle East region, with cross-border incidents into Lebanon. Daily clashes have been reported over the Blue Line, the demarcation line on Lebanon’s southern border since 8th of October.

As conflict at Lebanon’s border with Israel continues to escalate, the South of Lebanon has been heavily affected by the ongoing cross border conflict and spillover of the Gaza crisis, with frequent clashes, airstrikes and, military operations leading to widespread destruction and loss of life. The escalation of hostilities has forced thousands of families to flee their homes, seeking safety in neighboring areas, makeshift shelters within the region, or moving to other areas in Lebanon. Thousands have lost their homes, possessions, and livelihood assets.

As of 12 March, 91,316 individuals (52% females) have been displaced from south Lebanon due to the ongoing hostilities along the Blue Line.  It is estimated that at least 60,000 persons have remained in border villages and are highly affected by exchanges of fire while having lost livelihoods and income and the situation becomes more acute.

ACT Lebanon Forum members Christian Aid, DanChurchAid, DSPR- JCC, Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)  and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) are preparing an appeal for responding to the urgent needs with special focus on people who have been directly affected by the current conflict.

ACT-Alert-South Lebanon Response

Armed conflict, extra judicial killings by security forces and political violence in DRC has caused massive displacement across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is reported that there is visible movement of displaced persons from areas like Shasha, Kirotse and Sake towards Goma and the Uganda border point of Bunagana. The city of Sake has also been affected by bombs and there have been reports of human rights violations and gender-based violence against women and girls. Children have abandoned their schools; unaccompanied children are also observed in the streets and in the neighborhoods of the city of Goma and its surroundings as well as the city of Minova in South Kivu. The displacement is also caused by rising tensions with neighboring Rwanda on alleged support for militia groups.

In DRC the internally displaced populations are living in churches, schools, and open spaces while some of the most vulnerable are hosted by family and friends. In Uganda and Tanzania, refugees are settled in already established refugee camps.  Uganda received 2,551 refugees since January 2024.  As of 19 February, about 14,599 refugees are in Tanzania.

The forums in DRC, Uganda, and Tanzania are requesting to launch an ACT appeal to support the ongoing response in these three countries.

ACT Alert DRC Conflict

As of February 5, 2024, a mega wildfire has devastated approximately 26,000 hectares. The affected areas include the provinces of Valparaíso and Marga Marga in the Quinta Región, where over 15,000 homes have been completely damaged. The combination of high population density in challenging terrains, prolonged drought, and soaring temperatures in Chile has greatly facilitated the rapid spread of wildfires. This situation is further compounded by the challenges in accessing affected areas and the limited capacity of Chilean institutions and emergency services to contain the fires effectively. UN Chile has reported that this prolonged heatwave commenced in January 2023, which has created the perfect conditions for the escalation of forest fires in this region of the country.

Current main impacts:

• As of February, 372 individuals are reported missing, and it is anticipated that this number will increase. 122 people have lost their lives due to the fire. Furthermore, a total of 40,000 individuals have been significantly and comprehensively affected by the destruction of homes.
• It has been estimated that affected residences in the Valparaíso region are up to 12,000 in Viña del Mar and 2,000 in Quilpué. Affected people would exceed 38,000 (approximately 31,000 people in Viña del Mar and around 7,000 people in Quilpué).
• Besides the loss of lives and the devastation of residences, schools, and natural spaces, the impact extends to two ecologically vital areas: the La Campana-Peñuelas Biosphere Reserve, acknowledged as one of Chile’s ten biosphere reserves, and the Viña del Mar Botanical Garden, a key green sanctuary in the region.
• Severe impacts have been identified on critical infrastructure such as homes, businesses, vehicles, recreational spaces, places of worship, and educational facilities, among other aspects, being damaged or destroyed.
• The population affected is facing considerable mental health challenges as a result of the loss of human and animal lives, the upheaval of their livelihoods, and the complete or partial destruction of their environment, surroundings, and homes.
• Long-term solutions will be contingent upon political decisions by the Chilean government, while immediate and urgent measures surpass the current capacity of the government. This is evidenced by the significant involvement of private and civic organizations providing assistance to affected families.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile (IELCH) is seeking to provide emergency response to alleviate humanitarian needs caused by the fires in three sectors: Psychosocial Support, Food Security (involving the delivery of food baskets), and WASH (with the distribution of hygiene kits and menstrual hygiene kits). An RRF proposal is being drafted with a budget estimate of approximately USD 150,000 for the successful planning and execution of the above activities.

ACT Alert Template Chile Wildfires 2024