In the afternoon of Friday the 5 January 2018, the region of Atsinanana in Madagascar, was affected by the tropical cyclone Ava with a maximum wind speed of 150 kph alternated by gusts of 205 km/h in a radius of 37 km around its center. The tropical storm hit the Island country off South-eastern on Friday and Saturday killing at least 29 people nationwide and forcing more than 17,000 from their homes. According to the Statement from the National Bureau for Risk and Catastrophe Management or BNGRC, 22 people are still missing. Overall, Ava affected more than 83,000 people. The cyclone struck the Eastern part of Madagascar the hardest. There, towns flooded and buildings collapsed, crops were destroyed, roads were damaged and communications were knocked down. Heavy rains are expected and spread in Regions Atsinanana, Analanjirofo, Alaotra Mangoro and Vatovavy Fitovinany.

In March 2017, tropical cyclone Enawo slammed into the northeast of the country, killing at least 80 people displacing almost a quarter of a million. Enawo was the strongest cyclone to hit Madagascar in 13 years with winds of 230kph, the equivalent of a category 4 hurricane. In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, the ACT forum in Madagascar has identified a gap in safe shelter, food, non-food items, wash kits and protection and has resolved that if funded, it will have the capacity to properly bridge the identified gap. The ACT forum is planning on submitting a funding proposal to provide food, non-food items and wash kits to ensure that the cyclone affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards to wash, health and livelihoods.

Alerts_Madagascar_ Ava Cyclone Emergency

It has been seven years and the conflict in Syria continues — devastating, displacing, and destroying lives and forcing millions to flee from their homes. Despite the generous response and support that has been provided by host countries, international and national NGO’S, faith-based organizations, and many others, most Syrian displaced and refugee families remain vulnerable. Refugees and displaced Syrian families live below the poverty line, struggle to meet basic needs, have limited access to legal/social protection and income- generating opportunities. This not only impacts their basic survival but also their ability to cope, to heal and re-build their lives with dignity. Ongoing violence in many parts of Syria continues to lead to large-scale displacement. While no large influxes of Syrian refugees across borders have been witnessed, an additional 570,000 Syrian refugees across the region have been registered in 2017 increasing the number of registered refugees from 4.8 million to 5.3 million (3RP- Regional Overview 2018-2019). The critical response for the refugee situation continues to fall primarily on the neighbouring countries in the region- mainly- Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey–that host the largest numbers of registered refugees per capita in the world. In Lebanon, one in five people is a refugee, while one in 15 is a refugee in Jordan, further exacerbating the already vulnerable and fragile context of the host community population.  In Syria, economic contraction has left the population bereft and destitute. The destruction and disrepair of key social and civilian infrastructure marks the unravelling of essential public services, negatively impacting every aspect of daily life.  The ability of the Syrian people to cope with the effects of the conflict is nearly exhausted. A multifaceted range of interventions, from emergency aid to humanitarian aid to longer-term assistance is still needed for those affected by the humanitarian crisis. Nearly half of those affected by the crisis are children and adolescents who are deprived of basic needs such as protection and education. The Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Syrian refugee populations are in critical need of access to the most essential basic services and to an income that allows them to meet their basic needs.  It is essential that the response continues to offer humanitarian assistance to ensure IDPs in Syria and refugees in Jordan and Lebanon to receive the support that they desperately need.

Call-4-Action SYRIA JSL_18 12 2017_issued

As part of the revision of the ACT Alliance Humanitarian Response Mechanism, a “Call for Action” is essentially the same as an “Alert”, but it applies to Complex emergencies only (category 3 in the ACT Revised Humanitarian Mechanism). For further information on the Revised Humanitarian Response Mechanism, please refer to its online toolkit: https://actlearn.org/course/view.php?id=236

The current crisis in Iraq has begun in June 2014, when militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) seized control of over one third of Iraq’s territory within a few weeks. With the help of international forces, Iraqi Security Forces, the Kurdish Peshmerga and various armed groups, engaged in the fight against ISIS. After several successful offensives against the ISIS-held territories, the government of Iraq declared the end of war against ISIS on 9 December 2017. The victory was expected to further motivate internally displaced people (IDPs) to return to their places of origin, as well as halt any new large-scale displacements. However, a referendum held on Kurdish independence on 25 September 2017 has triggered conflict between the government of Iraq and the Kurdish regional government. Although the new system of territorial control seems to have stabilized, economic effects of the ongoing political dispute are likely to negatively affect vulnerable populations.

Call-4-Action IRAQ_final document_13 12 2017

As part of the revision of the ACT Alliance Humanitarian Response Mechanism, a “Call for Action” is essentially the same as an “Alert”, but it applies to Complex emergencies only (category 3 in the ACT Revised Humanitarian Mechanism). For further information on the Revised Humanitarian Response Mechanism, please refer to its online toolkit: https://actlearn.org/course/view.php?id=236

In the evening of Sunday 12 November 2017, the North-east of Iraq experienced an earthquake in the magnitude of approximately 7.2 – 7.5, according to European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The epicentre of this earthquake is located 32 kilometres from the city of Halabja. According to the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS), approximately 1,840,000 people live within 100km of the epicentre of this earthquake in both Iraq and Iran. Local experts and seismologists in the area see potential occurrence of such shock in the future as the area has entered into a new level of intensity, and therefore it is likely that future earthquakes will be of a same or higher magnitude.

Alerts Iraq Earthquake

On 23 October 2017, the Permanent Contingency Commission (COPECO) declared a green alert in five of the country’s departments: Cortés, Yoro, Atlántida, Islas de La Bahía and Colón; the alert was declared in response to the arrival of the first cold front of the season, which brought heavy rains and prompted COPECO to raise the alert level for the departments of Islas de la Bahía, Cortés, Atlántida and Colón at 5:00 pm on 24 October.  That same day, the government declared a state of emergency due to the presence of the weather system in the departments of Cortés, Atlántida, Yoro, Colón, Islas de la Bahía and Gracias a Dios. The weather system brought heavy rainfall, which caused rivers and gorges to flood. As of 29 October 2017, a red alert was in effect for the departments Gracias a Dios, Yoro, Islas de la Bahía, Cortés, Atlántida and Colón, while a yellow alert was in place for departments Olancho, Santa Bárbara and Francisco Morazán and a green alert for the departments of Copán, Comayagua, La Paz, Valle, Choluteca, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Intibucá and El Paraíso. According to official data provided by COPECO, the flooding has had the following impact on Honduras:

• 10,564 affected households

• 50,770 affected persons

• 4876 evacuated households (24,691 persons)

• 25 persons rescued

• 1799 households in temporary shelters (9351 persons)

• 5012 damaged houses

• 13 totally destroyed houses.

Additionally, Tropical Depression Selma formed in the Pacific at the same time as a tropical disturbance in the Atlantic according to COPECO’s National Centre of Atmospheric, Oceanographic and Seismic Studies, producing moderate to strong rains, especially in the country’s south central and western parts.

Given the level of damages, the ACT Forum from Honduras through its local member CASM (Mennonite Commission for Social Action) is planning on submitting a funding proposal to provide Food aid to affected households in the Department of Cortes, Honduras.

Alerts_Honduras_Floods

On the morning of Friday the 3 November 2017, the state of Chennai, Tamil Nadu in India, was severely affected by a low pressure area that had formed over Sri Lanka and South West Bay of Bengal bringing heavy and incessant rain falls to Chennai and Tamil Nadu. This has exacerbated the flooding caused by rains since Thursday. Fishermen venturing into the sea have been warned and advised not to go into the sea for fishing. North east monsoon is strengthening and officials have predicted more rain and thunder showers to continue for next three days in most places over the northern coast, Southern Tamil Nadu including Chennai city.

The southern district of coastal Tamil Nadu have recorded heavier showers in last 24 hours.

According to local authorities five people are recorded to have died due to heavy rain related incidents. Two eight year old girls were electrocuted while playing outside their home in Kodungaiur as the electricity lines fell into the water.

The floods have put the district in a state of crisis. The flood affected persons find themselves in a desperate situation, with many unmet vital humanitarian needs such as access to: food, safe shelter and non food items. The rains and the flooding has meant that people have lost their livelihoods and dependent on external support. There is need for sufficient food, safe shelter and basic non-food items. The dire situation is further compounded for the flood affected people with vulnerabilities especially for those people discriminated because of caste. The government has initiated 115 relief distribution centers which is not enough to reach to all the slums areas in Chennai city and remote villages. There is a pressing necessity to provide immediate assistance.

Alerts_11_2017_India_Chennai

Tropical storm “Nate” formed on Thursday the 5^th of October in the Caribbean off the coast of Nicaragua. The storm caused heavy rains and landslides throughout several countries in Central America. As of October 6^th, the number of casualties rose to 28 and with 14 people reportedly missing. National Civil Protection systems were triggered and are responding with local coordination mechanisms.  Tropical storm Nate will continue its trajectory towards the north-eastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula on the evening of October 6^th as it makes its way to the US Gulf Coast, where it is projected to make landfall as a hurricane.    According to data provided by the National Civil Protection Systems, the damage reported is as follow:

1. Nicaragua: 11 deaths; Government has provided food supplies for more than 1,600 affected households; 11 departments/31 municipalities affected; More than 30,000 people affected. 5,953 damaged houses.
2. Guatemala: 5 deaths, 3 missing; 2,749 people affected; 413 people rendered homeless.
3. Costa Rica: 8 deaths, 11 missing; 3,921 people evacuated to 94 shelters; 419,868 people without water.
4. Honduras: 3 deaths; 16 provinces on yellow alert; 143 affected people.
5. Panama: 1 death; 150 affected homes; 750 people affected.

In Costa Rica, landslides caused significant damage to roads and villages, cutting off some areas. A highway that connects the south of the country was washed away in Casa Mata. At least 5,000 residents fled to emergency shelters there, according to The Associated Press. The Costa Rican government declared a state of emergency, and President Luis Guillermo Solís appealed to the international community for support.

Given the level of damages so far, the Costa Rica Forum through its local member ILCO (Lutheran Church in Costa Rica) is planning on submitting a funding proposal to provide Food aid, non-Food Items, WASH, Psychosocial Support. The Nicaragua Forum is assessing the situation in order to decide if they are going to respond.

Alerts_Central_America_Tropical_Storm_Nate

In the evening of Friday the 22 September 2017, the district of Karangasem where Mt. Agung in Bali Island situated, was declared on its highest alert (red alert), followed by the instruction to exclusion zone of 9 to 12 kilometres from the summit. National and provincial authorities reported the significant increase of volcanic activity and by 23 September 2017 the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) deployed initial team to assess and set up the command post.

ACT Alliance members (ICCO, LWR and YEU) work in areas affected by the volcanic eruption, and is assessing the impact of the disaster to better understand the needs and vulnerabilities, ACT Alliance is now monitoring the situation and emergency teams are ready/preparing to respond according to the results of a contextual analysis and rapid needs assessment.

Alerts Indonesia Volcanic Eruption

In Liberia, since the beginning of this year, there have been constant storms and floods resulting in damage and losses around the country. On Tuesday, August 31, it was reported on the National Radio Station, ELBC Super Morning Show that a heavy storm had occurred in Bong County (Central Liberia) which caused the destruction of houses thereby leading to the displacement of hundreds of local community dwellers.  There are presently 5,244 people who are affected and 118 structures destroyed in Suakoko Town.

Many of them are without shelters, according to reports received from the National Disaster Committee based Gbarnga, Bong County. Other impacts of the storm and floods include the destruction of schools buildings, offices, sign boards, etc. The rainy season is at its peak in Liberia, more flooding and storms are expected.

Alerts_Liberia_Floods and Storms