In the afternoon of Tuesday the 5 October 2017, the province of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique, recorded the first armed attack carried out by fundamentalist terrorists, leading to the outbreak of armed conflict that persists to this day.
Over the past three years, monitoring groups say more than 1,500 people have been killed and at least 10,000 households have been displaced. Reliable casualty reports have not yet come through, but they are expected to be significant and it remains unknown how many civilians have died (The Guardian, ReliefWeb Aug 2020).
Insurgents have also captured a strategic port in the restive province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique. Government forces in Mozambique are fighting to regain control of a remote area in the north causing alarm that fighting in Mozambique could destabilize the region.
CEDES a national member of ACT Mozambique forum intends to support displaced households with food and non-food items.
Mozambique_Conflict
On August 4, 2020 a catastrophic explosion at Beirut Port caused widespread damage for hundreds of buildings including grain silos storing around 85 percent of the country’s grain, and numerous residential places have been damaged or destroyed, including many healthcare facilities and several major hospitals in Greater Beirut area, due to the blast. Official governmental reports estimate that more than 135 people were killed and over 5,000 are injured, and more than 300,000 people left homeless in the Greater Beirut area. Beirut’s governor estimated the damages costs ranging from $3-5 billion, and calls for international aid to Lebanon.
ACT Lebanon forum is in discussion on submitting a funding proposal to the ACT Secretariat to provide assistance in Shelter rehabilitation/ NFI, food assistance, hygiene items, and cash for work to ensure that the affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards to their needs.
Lebanon Alert- Explosion
Horn and East Africa: Desert Locusts
The desert locust is considered the most destructive migratory pest in the world as it is highly mobile and feeds on large quantities of any kind of green vegetation, including crops, pasture, and fodder.
In February 2020, the government of Somalia declared the locust upsurge a national disaster. Currently, various UN and government agencies are conducting post-event assessment /spraying.
The region is now seeing the spread of swarms of desert locusts that may eat crops in many countries before the main harvest from July to September. FAO currently projects that an additional 1.5 to 2.5 million people could become severely food insecure as a result solely of locust outbreaks.
ACT Horn and East Africa Regional forum are planning to submit a Regional appeal on cash transfer, seed and livestock feed emergency stocks. Requesting members in the regional appeal will include Christian Aid in Ethiopia, LWF, NCA in South Sudan, DCA, CoU in Uganda and CWS, ADS in Kenya, among others.
All interventions will be conducted within WHO guidelines on prevention of COVID-19.
Horn and East Africa_ Desert Locust Infestation.
Horn and East Africa: Desert Locusts.
The desert locust is considered the most destructive migratory pest in the world as it is highly mobile and feeds on large quantities of any kind of green vegetation, including crops, pasture, and fodder.
In February 2020, the government of Somalia declared the locust upsurge a national disaster. Currently, various UN and government agencies are conducting post-event assessment /spraying.
The region is now seeing the spread of swarms of desert locusts that may eat crops in many countries before the main harvest from July to September. FAO currently projects that an additional 1.5 to 2.5 million people could become severely food insecure as a result solely of locust outbreaks.
ACT Horn and East Africa Regional forum are planning to submit a Regional appeal on cash transfer, seed and livestock feed emergency stocks. Requesting members in the regional appeal will include Christian Aid in Ethiopia, LWF, NCA in South Sudan, DCA, CoU in Uganda and CWS, ADS in Kenya, among others.
All interventions will be conducted within WHO guidelines on prevention of COVID-19.
Horn and East Africa_ Desert Locust Infestation.
Alert_05_2020_Tropical Storm Amanda El Salvador
ALERT
El Salvador
San Salvador, May 31st. 2020
| SITUATION |
| On May 31st. 2020 the Tropical Depression 2-E has been reclassified as Tropical Storm AMANDA, and is located just off the coast of the Pacific, between El Salvador and Guatemala. The Tropical Storm Amanda, has brought so far between 371-400 millimeters of rain in 48 hours, equivalent to the 10% of the yearly rainfall which may increase; as it is expected that rain to continue for 72 hours . Relief Organizations, like the Red Cross, Life Saving Commands, Green Cross, among others, have been active since the Executive branch issued a yellow alert on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.
This Sunday morning, the 31st of May, the Government of El Salvador announced red alert at national level.
According to preliminary official data, the following damage has been reported:
15 deceased people, 7 missing persons 154 emergency shelters enabled, and 7,222 evacuees and 18,622 families directly affected. Approximately 900 homes have been damaged and the water service is cut in the department of San Salvador. Many communities have no electricity due to fallen trees over electric wires and structures. Needs assessment may reflect the real damaged in the next hours Some reports by users of social media are attached and a link to representative images is provided here (LINK)
According to community sources where members of the ACT Forum have a presence:
People and authorities have requested churches, community centers and cultural houses to be used as shelters. All over the country shelters are set to receive people affected by this event.
Most of these emergency shelters have been improvised and can exponentially increase the cases of COVID19 as there are no appropriate protocols and some of them even combined evacuated and quarantined population.
Seasonal crops (bananas, plantains, corn, beans and vegetables) in general are heavily damaged and in some cases totally lost; further depriving families of food and income sources to face the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
You can directly access the latest information available from official sources through the following link: https://proteccioncivil.gob.sv/ |
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| NEEDS |
| Food, WASH, Shelter, psychosocial support, health services, and cash transfers for immediate emergency response and support livelihood’s recovery.
Needs assessments would also be a challenge in the first days of the emergency, because municipal and departmental committees are not fully activated or coordinated with the central level. This is a result of the President´s decision to dismantle the national committee of civil protection and to delay the appointing of departmental governors; nonetheless, the communities are organizing to collect the necessary information and support, through their local organizations. So, at this stage working at local level is essential to set a link with the immediate needs.
It is hoped to pay attention to the subsequent recovery stages in the most affected territories, providing necessary resources and rehabilitation mechanisms. |
| STAKEHOLDERS |
| The main stakeholders that lead monitoring, evaluation and rapid response in the country are the following institutions: The Civil Protection System through, Municipal and Community Committees, the Humanitarian Country Team, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [UN-OCHA].
The National Civic Protection System, which includes the national and military police, along with humanitarian and relief agencies are mobilizing, food, clothing, wash, hygiene and sanitation. While Churches are liaising with shelters, communities, and requesting humanitarian assistance, mainly for food, WASH, hygiene and sanitation. |
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| The members of the ACT Alliance in El Salvador are currently active, monitoring the development of the Tropical Storm and are in contact with authorities, partners and other NGOs in preparation to respond. Staff are preparing to submit a funding proposal to provide a rapid humanitarian response.
Additional information on the ACT Forum member agencies is available on the:
https://actalliance.org/about/forums/
Any planned response will be led by the ACT El Salvador Forum integrated by the Lutheran World Federation, Christian Aid, Sinodo Luterano, and ALFALIT. In addition to life-saving assistance, the ACT Alliance will strive to integrate DRR, preparedness, climate change mitigation and advocacy into its response. After the issuance of the alert, the Forum and the ACT Secretariat will issue concept notes and status reports based on the needs assessments.
Please notice that due to the COVID19 current situation we will set activities aligned with the duty of care towards our beneficiaries, volunteers and staff. |
Latin America and the Caribbean
ACT Regional Representative, Carlos Rauda (Carlos.Rauda@actalliance.org)
Humanitarian Programme Officer, Sonia Judith Hernandez (Sonia.Hernandez@actalliance.org)
Geneva: Alwynn Javier, Global Humanitarian Coordinator (Alwynn.Javier@actalliance.org)
ACT Website: https://actalliance.org/
SECRETARIAT: 150, route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switz. TEL.: +4122 791 6434 – FAX: +4122 791 6506 –
www.actalliance.orgAlert_05_2020_Tropical Storm in El Salvador
Horn and East Africa: Floods Emergency
Since the beginning of the long rains (March-May), the Horn and East Africa region has been faced with extreme rainfall and widespread flooding, directly affecting 1.26 million people (ERCC) May 2020.
The floods find the affected countries in the region at a time of already unprecedented threat to food security, aggravated by the worst Desert Locust upsurge in over a generation, which will affect at least 12.5 million people with food crisis at emergency levels.
Increased border restrictions brought about as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, already exacerbates the vulnerability of the people into need further.
ACT members in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda have recently launched appeals in response to the flood emergency while Uganda Joint Council of Churches will submit an RRF.
Horn and East Africa Floods Alert
Bangladesh and India: Cyclone Amphan
Cyclone Amphan made landfall near Sagar Island in West Bengal, India, close to the Bangladeshi border around 5 p.m. local time with sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour (100 mph), according to the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Storm surge up to 5 meters (17 feet) is likely to occur along the coastline as Amphan continues to push inland across eastern India and Bangladesh. Heavy rain is also likely to lead to flash flooding across the region through Thursday morning. Once the storm pushes inland it will weaken significantly and is expected to dissipate by Friday.
Disaster Alert estimated that about 6,483 people will be severely affected and about 10 million moderately affected. About 43 million people are exposed to the cyclone. Reports estimate that 3 million people have been evacuated before landfall in India and Bangladesh. Some people have been reluctant to move to the emergency shelters for fear of infection from COVID-19. By landfall, 12 people have died in India with expectations that there could be more as communications and electricity had been cutoff. Migrant workers, particularly those trying to go back to Odisha, have been affected as transportation systems have stopped. In Bangladesh, one man has died when a tree fell on him while another one went missing after his boat capsized.
In India, CASA and LWSIT are planning to respond while CCDB in Bangladesh are already providing services to the affected communities.
ALERT Bangladesh India Cyclone Amphan
On the morning of Tuesday the 14 March 2020, Egypt was aggressively attacked by heavy rainfall caused flooding in multiple populated areas, causing massive property damages. More than 1000 houses were totally/ partially demolished by the wild effect of the strong gush of water. Also, extensive areas of agricultural land were destroyed by the effect of the downpours. Means of livelihood and income were negatively impacted. The floods claimed more than 30 human lives including children.
The ACT member (BLESS) is planning on submitting a Rapid Response Funding proposal to ensure that the floods affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards to Shelter/ NFI.
Egypt_Floods_Emergency
Madagascar: Cyclone Emergency
In the afternoon of Saturday the 14 March 2020, the region of Sambava situated in the North East of Madagascar, was affected by a Cyclone (Herold).
Only 8 weeks after the last devastating storm damaged the West Coast of Madagascar, the island was struck by cyclone Herold, on the North-Eastern coast. Cyclone Herold was accompanied by heavy rains causing fast-rising floods, landslides and large spread inundations. Both disasters have had fatal consequences, especially in remote areas, where houses and harvest were damaged and lost.”
ACT Madagascar forum members are planning to provide 1 500 additional HH to the already existing ACT appeal MDG201 to ensure that the cyclone-affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards to improved access to safe water, provision of shelter and access to Food and Non-Food Items through distribution or most likely cash distribution.
Alert_Madagascar_Cyclone
Peru: Floods, hailstorms and heavy rains in Cusco and Puno
During the night of Tuesday the 18 February 2020, the province of Quispicanchis, Cusco and Huancané, Puno in Peru, was affected by hailstorm and heavy rains resulting in damage and loss of crops such as potatoes, corn, wheat, quinoa, fava beans, barley, edible plants that are the main sources of food and income. Additionally, houses and animal sheds have been affected in their roofs and walls, putting in danger the life and health of approximately 1,500 peasant families, especially the ones with children under five years-old and the elderly. This situation is continuing and has caused the collapse of some house walls and animal sheds, calamine’s of the rooftop are broken allowing the downpour get into the houses and damaging mattresses and house stuff, and causing respiratory diseases in children and elderly people.
Peru Floods Hailstorm and heavy rains in Cusco and Puno
