Heavy fighting erupted between Armenian and Azerbaijan forces on 2 April along the southern, south-eastern and north-eastern parts of the Line of Contact in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. This is the largest fighting since the ceasefire agreement of 1994. Official sources from the government of Armenia state that 18 soldiers and 3 civilians (among them a 12 year old school boy) have died and 35 are injured (including 2 children) as a result of the fighting. Unofficial sources estimated this number to be higher. Seriously wounded soldiers are being moved to Armenia.

The fighting was most prominent near the villages of Agdere (Martakert), Khojavend (Martouni) and Hadrut (Hadrout). As a result, a total of 14,400 people are affected. According to ACT Alliance member, the Armenian Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation (ART), the majority of the population in the affected territories have been evacuated to the regional centres.

AlertS_12_2016_Nagorno-Karabakh-conflict

Chad ranks 185 out of 188 on the Human Development Index and takes the 6^th position on the Fragile State Index^[1]. In this precarious context, Chad hosts millions of vulnerable people, displaced by violence and conflict in neighbouring countries. Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria, Northern Cameroon and within Chad now exacerbate the challenges of humanitarian response.  In addition to floods, droughts and pests, negatively influence agricultural activities, displacement has caused food insecurity and threatened the livelihoods of over 3.4 million people – refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Chadian host communities living nearby the refugee camps. OCHA’s Humanitarian Response Plan for 2016 indicates that 3.9 million people in Chad are directly affected by the four major crises in Chad and the surrounding countries^[1]. Chad currently hosts more than 505,370 refugees (377,480 Sudanese, 100,000 CAR and 27,890 from other countries)^[2]

The ACT Alliance members in Chad sees the urgency to provide immediate life-saving assistance, but  also aims to continue building resilient communities that are more self-reliant to meet their livelihood as well as their psychosocial needs. A precondition for sustainable solutions to long-term displacement in Chad is to support peaceful coexistence between long-term displaced populations and their host communities and sustainable use of natural resources (livelihood development). This will reduce tensions and provide mutual benefit for national development, peace and stability in the region. The ACT Alliance does not expect a large return of refugees from Chad to Sudan or CAR. Darfur, Sudan remains a complex crisis and CAR continues to experience insecurity and violence following elections in 2015. Sustainable solutions to long-term displacement in these protracted crises are needed.

Chad Alerts 04_2016

ACT Alliance Alert Reference Number: 03/2016

Following the post-election violence in Burundi and the continued deterioration of the lives of affected population, the ACT Alliance members in Burundi are concerned about its impact on the economy and their livelihood systems. A total of 263, 000 Burundian refugees and asylum seekers have arrived in the neighboring countries of Tanzania, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Rwanda since April. Internal displacement has been difficult to ascertain due to the complex political situation but current figures estimate at least 25,000 across a few of the provinces who are accommodated by host communities in the respective provinces. Given that the situation in Burundi remains volatile, more displacement is expected. Initially, most of the refugees were women and children, while recently it is observed that a growing number of young men are among the arrivals. In addition to population directly influenced by the political situation, Burundi also has more than 900,000 people who are severely affected by food shortages, 150,000 children are malnourished and without services due to aggravation of crisis and suspension of funding by external donors. An estimated 30,000 are affected by floods and landslides are also without services from the government.

Alerts 03 2016 Burundi Conflict

Zimbabwe experienced a poor 2014/15 agricultural season characterized by dry spells in most parts of the country particularly in Masvingo and Matabeleland North and South Provinces. This has led to losses in agricultural production of over 60% drop in cereal production as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture Mechanization and Irrigation Development (MAMID). There is also loss of household incomes due to reduced labor opportunities in the agricultural sector.

According to the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZIMVAC) 2015, there is a nationwide cereal deficit of over 650,000 MT while an additional 350,000 MT will be required to feed livestock. This has put 1.5 million people at risk of starvation. According to ZIMVAC acute malnutrition in children has risen to 3.3% up from 2.3% in the previous season. Average household purchasing power in terms of maize grain dropped from 300 kilograms last season to 244 at the start of this consumption season and FEWSNET expects this trend to continue. Despite the ongoing lean season assistance, FEWSNET reported that most Districts are currently experiencing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) food security outcomes because of a lower than typical level of lean season assistance.

Alerts 02_2016 Zimbabwe_drought

The current food insecurity crisis in Ethiopia appear to be a result of a combination of factors that includes the pre-El Niño failure of the spring rains and the El Niño induced late onset, erratic and early cessation of the main summer rains. With the exception of some unseasonal rains, the northern half of Ethiopia faces a period of between five (eastern highlands agriculture zone) to eight months (western highlands agriculture zone) without rain.

Alerts 01_2016_Ethiopia_drought

ACT Alliance Alert Reference Number: 39/2015.

ACT Alliance members in Mozambique are planning to respond with provision and improvement of water sources, training of water user committees, community sensitization on improved sanitation and hygiene promotion, development of Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) initiatives, food assistance, provision of certified seeds, tools and training on agronomical/agricultural practises, and advocacy efforts.

Alerts_39_2015_Mozambique_Drought_Response

A low pressure system over coastal Tamil Nadu unleashed heavy showers in Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh, leading to massive floods in the regions. There were three consecutive spells of intensive rainfall, which have exacerbated the existing flood situation. The first intensive spell of rainfall was from the 8th to the 9th of November, followed by intensive rains again from the 15th to the 17th followed by the present spell which began on the 28th of November 2015.

Alerts 38_2015_India_Flooding_Southern_India

ACT Alliance Alert Reference Number: 37/2015.

An ACT Alliance response is needed to ameliorate the living conditions of IDPS in host communities following the increasing attacks of the terrorist group Boko Haram in the towns and villages of the Far North Cameroonian border with Nigeria. The Church of the Lutheran Brethren of Cameroon present on the ground with its diaconal department is well known in the affected areas and can lead many life-saving interventions if resources are available to respond to their urgent humanitarian needs.

Alerts 37_2015_Cameroon_IDPs in the Far North Region

ACT Alliance Alert Reference Number: 36/2015.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Finn Church Aid (FCA) are providing support to conflict-affected populations in CAR thanks to the ACT Appeal CAF151. LWF focuses on Social Cohesion, Food Security and Nutrition in the Nana Mambéré and Ouham Pendé Provinces. FCA is implementing Education and WASH activities in the Mambéré Kadéi Province, as well as in Bangui.

While this response is very necessary, the Appeal is not fully funded and pledges came rather late. This, combined with critical security issues, explain the reduced levels of implementation thus far. This is why the Appeal is being extended, until April 30^th 2016 (instead of December 31^st 2015).

Alerts_36_2015_CAF151_War_affected_Communities

ACT Alliance Alert Reference Number: 35/2015.

ACT members in the region coordinate the humanitarian response in the ACT Jordan/Syria/Lebanon (JSL) Forum. Members have carried out their own detailed needs assessments and response in various sectors, which include but are not limited to food, NFI, psychosocial support, persons with disabilities (PWDs), education, shelter, home repairs, hygiene, and health.

Alerts 35_2015_ Syria_Response