A series of explosive eruption from Mt. Lewotobi Laki-Laki occurred from December 23^rd to January 1^st, 2023. After the eruption on December 23^rd, 2023, a crack was seen in the northwest of the peak 160 meters long and emitting thick white smoke with the height around 300 meters. On January 1^st, 2024, at 00.03 Central Indonesian Time there was an increase in continuous earthquakes with an amplitude reaching 7 mm. A new eruption center was observed originating from a fracture in the south-southeast of Mt. Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s summit. The eruption occurred 1,000-1,500 meters high from the peak, the eruption ash column was white, grey to black.

Based on the government’s report and initial assessment, recently, the disaster indicates in a moderate impact and is categorised as medium-scale emergency. Nevertheless, there is a possibility for status raise since Mt. Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s was increased by PVMBG to Level III since January 1^st, 2024. The local government of East Flores District has also declared a disaster emergency alert for 14 days starting from January 1^st, 2024.

Indonesia forum is planning to respond to the urgent needs of the affected population with life saving activities focus on the most vulnerable population. ACT Alliance members including Pelkesi, YEU, MBM and CWS are currently working in the areas and planning to expand to the affected areas.

Indonesia_Alert_Lewotobi Volcano Eruption_2024

On 7 October 2023, Palestinian militant groups launched a major attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. The attack included rocket barrages and vehicle-transported attacks across the border on Israeli communities and forces. In response, the government of Israel declared a state of emergency and war. The Israeli military retaliated by conducting a counteroffensive and an extensive aerial bombardment campaign on Gaza followed by an invasion.

This conflict created a short term crisis for families from Gaza Strip, around 115 families, who were visiting Jordan for family reasons, and university students, around 30 students, who is studying in Jordan and got stuck due to the boarder’s closure who were not able to return back to Gaza which forced them to stay in Jordan with no source of income required in paying their housing rent, securing their daily needs of food and non-food items, medication, and university tuition fees for the students who are already studying at the Jordanian universities and lost all financial support to continue their studies. Adding to that the crises created a negative impact on psychological wellbeing of those who got stuck in Jordan creating the feeling of insecurity and stability.

ACT Jordan Forum member DSPR is preparing an RRF for responding to the urgent needs with special focus on people who have been directly affected by the current conflict in Gaza.

ACT Alert- Jordan Humanitarian Crisis

Since the 8^th of October 2023, exchange of artillery fire and rockets between Hezbollah and the Israeli army commenced, following the Israeli attacks on Gaza, and has been escalating on a daily basis since then.  Due to this escalation, several thousand families from South Lebanon have fled their homes to neighboring areas particularly Tyre.  As of 21^st of November 2023, Lebanon has recorded 55,491 internally displaced persons (IDPs).  IDPs have sought safety in 429 locations (villages or neighborhoods) across 355 cadasters throughout Lebanon. Displacement has been observed in 25 out of the 26 districts across all eight governorates. Most of the IDPs (73%) are in five districts out of the total 25 districts hosting IDPs – specifically, Sour, El Nabatieh, Aley, Beirut, and Saida.

Damage has also been inflicted upon private property, public infrastructure, and agricultural land damaged by widespread fires ignited by the use of ammunition with incendiary effect.

In south Lebanon, 52 schools are closed, of which 17 are public, impacting more than 6,000 children who will need to explore alternative options for their education.

ACT Lebanon Forum member MECC is preparing an RRF for responding to the urgent needs with special focus on people who have been directly affected by the current conflict.

Alert – Lebanon – Internal Displacement

Since the 30th of October, Tropical Storm Pilar (TS Pilar) has caused heavy rains and flash flooding, pouring between 144.5 and 210.0 mm of rain in the first 11 hours of the meteorological phenomenon. It rained the equivalent of the entire month of November. Given these conditions, the likelihood of flash floods in rivers and streams, urban flooding, landslides, and falling rocks and trees is high. As of November, at least three people died while more than 500 others were evacuated.

The government has activated the emergency systems by issuing a nationwide red alert on October 29 and declaring a 15-day national state of emergency. The country has suspended classes nationwide until November 1 for public, private and higher education institutions. The Government of El Salvador has pre-equipped 100 shelters in different areas with the capacity to shelter more than 8,000 people.

In a rapid assessment conducted by the Federation of Agrarian Reform Cooperatives Central Region (FECORACEN), local producers have reported serious impacts on their livelihoods and agricultural production crops. In certain areas of the country, up to 75% of bean crops and up to 50% of corn crops have experienced remarkable damage. Information at local level is almost non-existent and few humanitarian organizations are conducting rapid needs assessments. The members of ACT Alliance are carrying out a detailed damage and needs assessment in the communities most affected by the TS Pilar.

Members of the ACT Forum El Salvador such as Christian Aid, the Christian Association for Education and Development, the Lutheran World Federation, the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod and the CREDHO Association are currently in the field and plan to provide support. Municipalities of San Miguel, Usulután, and Ahuachapán have approached the ACT Forum El Salvador to request humanitarian aid, as well as some government institutions such as the Crecer Juntos Institute. OCHA’s office in El Salvador is coordinating the response in conjunction with NGOs and the National Civil Protection System.

Despite the lack of information from the communities, the government and ACT Forum members have estimated that the more pressing humanitarian needs are related to the sectors of food security and nutrition, WASH, Psychosocial support, especially for children and women, and livelihoods. Cash transfer has also been identified as feasible for this response.

The Salvadoran Lutheran Synod and ALFALIT are seeking to submit an RRF proposal to alleviate the most humanitarian needs based on the Damage and Needs Assessment being currently conducted in the targeted communities. The project foresees providing humanitarian services in the sectors of CASH, CBPS, protection, and WASH to reach 100 families in the 20 most affected municipalities (4,000 people; 2,040 women and 1,960 men). It is estimated that a budget of approximately USD 300,000 is required to develop and provide optimal humanitarian support.

ACT Alert – El Salvador Tropical Storm Pilar 2023

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Karnali Province in western Nepal at around 11.47 p.m. local time (UTC 6.02 p.m.) on 3rd November 2023, with over 400 aftershocks occurring thereafter. The quake epicentre was in Ramidanda in Jajarkot District, some 65 kilometers northeast of Surkhet, the capital city of Karnali Province. Tremors have been felt in the adjacent Sudurpashchim and Lumbini provinces as well as other parts of Nepal.

According to the Ministry of Home Affair’s updated information as of 7th November 153 have been killed, 256 injured and significant number of people are displaced in two districts, namely, Jajarkot and Rukum West. The quake has also damaged over 10,000 houses (6,000 completely damaged and 4,000 partially damaged) both public and private including at least 400 schools.

Government has appealed for financial support to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and has highlighted the extensive damage in Jajarkot and Rukum West including to historic sites and public buildings. Survivors are sheltering in tents, facing cold weather challenges.

As per initial assessments transitional shelter, winterization kits, WASH facilities, and psycho-social support to the most vulnerable, including children, women, elderly, and persons with specific needs, etc are the major needs on the ground.

ACT Nepal Forum members FCA, LWF, FELM and Cordaid/KiA are available on the ground and planning to respond to the emergency.  

ACT Alert -Nepal Earthquake 2023

On October 7, the Government of Israel declared war, after Palestinian armed groups breached the security barrier at several points resulting in significant loss of life while simultaneously lunching barrage of rockets into Israel. The declaration of war has initiated a series of airstrikes on the densely populated Gaza Strip. This offensive has led to the loss of thousands of Palestinian lives, over 50% of them are  women and children, and  over 6 thousand individuals sustaining injuries. The ongoing hostilities have created a dire humanitarian crisis, with homes, schools, medical facilities, and critical infrastructure being extensively damaged or destroyed. 

The impact of this conflict has forced approximately 400,000 of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents to flee their homes, either out of fear for their lives or due to the destruction caused by airstrikes. Many have sought refuge in UNRWA schools and churches even though some of these shelters have also been damaged by airstrikes. The number of those affected by the hostilities is anticipated to rise. The Israeli government on 13 October, has requested the Palestinians to ‘relocate to southern Gaza immediately’ without any guarantee for their safety or their return, this concerns almost 1.2 million people residents in the northern parts of Gaza.  

Furthermore, Israeli authorities have cut off the water supply to Gaza, exacerbating an already severe shortage of potable water. A complete siege ordered by the Israeli government has severed access to electricity, food, and fuel, further aggravating the dire humanitarian situation. Gazans now have access to electricity for only 3-4 hours per day, hindering the functioning of health facilities and the treatment of the injured.  

As a result of the war in Gaza there has been an escalation of tension and this has led to increased violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including confrontations, casualties, settler-related violence, and attacks on healthcare, for the seventh consecutive day.

ACT Palestine Forum members DSPR, LWF and ELCJHL are requesting to activate the ACT humanitarian mechanism for an appeal for responding to the urgent needs with special focus on people who have been directly affected by the current conflict.

Alert – Gaza Conflict