Reaching its twelfth year of war, Syria remains a complex humanitarian and protection emergency characterized by ongoing hostilities and their long-term consequences, including widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, economic collapse, explosive ordnance contamination and one of the largest numbers of internally displaced people in the world. In many ways, the humanitarian needs across the whole of Syria are currently at their highest since the start of the conflict, and households are reverting to negative coping mechanisms more frequently than before. This includes child labour and child marriage and the sale of productive assets – all of which increase protection needs and/or reduce households’ capacity for self-sustenance in the future. As household resilience decreases, humanitarian needs increase. Over 14.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including approximately 9.6 million in severe need. The total number of IDPs is 5.38M, including 4.3M in need of humanitarian assistance.

Act Syria forum is preparing an appeal to respond to the needs of the affected communities. Act members: CA, GOPA-DERD, HEKS-EPER and MECC are getting ready for a response to provide humanitarian assistance in this complex environment targeting Food security, health, WASH, Education, Basic needs, NFIs, livelihoods & early recovery, child & youth forums, SGBV and psychosocial sectors.

ACT Syria forum Alert 2023 – Protracted Crisis

Hurricane Julia affected the Central American region with the greatest impact on Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. In El Salvador, the effects of the tropical storm started on October 7th, but it officially entered in the early morning of October 10th. Up to date, the following impact and losses have been reported:

• 397 rescues have been carried out, 162 obstructed roads are reported, 256 fallen trees, 112 landslides, 193 homes, and 10 vehicles affected, 15 floods, 134 river overflows, 1,110 evacuated, 10 deceased and 83 shelters have been activated.-
• 90 shelters are available to the population, 83 are in use and, 678 families are sheltered, which is equivalent to 2,097 people.
• Food insecurity due to the loss of all corn, beans, vegetables, and sorghum crops:
  • Lack of economic income due to the loss of small businesses.
  • Increased migration due to loss of jobs and housing.
  • Difficulty in getting around the communities to carry out their daily work activities due to the destruction of roads.

The ACT Forum El Salvador plan focuses on the recovery of the livelihoods of the most affected population, since there are considerable losses that if not addressed may cause food insecurity in many affected families, psychosocial support will also be provided to individuals and families that require it, based on the initial information obtained, the youth and child are the most affected population that needs to be addressed with CBCP. It is estimated that a budget of approximately 150,000.00 USD is required to develop and provide optimal care to the target population. To that extent, the ACT Forum El Salvador is foreseeing to apply for a RRF.

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As of October, hurricane Julia hit Nicaragua with rainfalls between 200mm to 250mm that have saturated soils, and wrought havoc across the country, especially in the North and South autonomous regions, where indigenous populations are still recovering from the 2020 hurricane season. The Hurricane has affected communities and populations throughout the national territory, especially in the center, west, and south of the country. About a million people are left without power and heavy rains and floods forced the evacuations of more than 13,000 families, while some 31,170 people lack access to drinking water. The central government has begun to respond at the level of urban areas and in shelters that were set up.

CIEETS, CEPAD, and ILFE, as members of the ACT Forum Nicaragua, are foreseen to provide a humanitarian response in the sectors of Food/Nutrition, Household items, Shelter, and WASH. To that end, a RRF of 150,000 USD is sought to be activated.

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On the morning of September 25, 2022, the Philippines was once again battered by the super typhoon Noru (locally named Karding) which brough maximum sustained winds of 195km/h and gustiness of 240km/h. Noru has undergone an explosive intensification and reached super typhoon category in less than 24 hour, one of the fastest recorded in the Pacific basin. Bringing torrential rains, violent winds and raging floods, Noru made two landfalls in Burdeos, Quezon and Dingalan Aurora. The super typhoon swept over 27 provinces causing 43 cities and municipalities under state of calamity.

From the initial assessment reports and figures reported its a medium scale emergency but with the changing weather situation it can convert into a large-scale emergency soon. As of 5^th October, a total of 314,430 families or 1,139,172 persons living in 1,922 villages in seven regions were affected. Of which, 691 families or 3,166 persons were served inside 22 Evacuation Centers (ECs) and 8,784 families or 43,254 persons were served outside the ECs. In the last ten days the affected population has increased from 700,000 to more than a million according to the assessment conducted in the country. More than 46,000 people remain displaced, while, twelve (12) casualties, five (5) missing persons, and 67 injured were recorded. The latest situation report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) cited 43 cities and municipalities under state of calamity. The super typhoon left 58,843 houses damaged (51,351 partially damaged and 7,492 totally damaged), power interruptions, and other infrastructures such as schools and roads destroyed.

ACT Philippines Forum through the National Council of Churches in the Philippines will access ACT’s Rapid Response Fund to provide assistance in two affected regions.

ALERT Philippines Typhoon Noru 

Since the 22nd of September, hurricane Ian has been impacting Cuba, particularly the provinces of Pinar del Rios, Artemisa, Mayabeque, the Special Municipality Isla de la Juventud, and La Habana. The hurricane has been leveled as a Category 3 with sustained winds of 205km/h and has caused landfalls, floods, damages to the infrastructure, housing, electricity and telecommunications services, crops, and the disruption of the provision of critical public and social services.

The ACT Forum Cuba, through its members CIC and CCRD, is foreseeing providing humanitarian support to 400 households and 2,000 affected people in sectors such as food security, WASH, Health, NFI, protection, and Emergency Preparedness. To that end, the ACT Forum Cuba will be applying for an RRF of 150.000 USD.

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Since mid-September, Honduras is facing a heavy rainy season that has created havoc and damage due to the excess rainfall, affecting the population and families from the different departments of the country, leaving their households destroyed, with no food, water, or refuge, and with their crops lost, unable to fulfill their basic needs. The Government of Honduras issued a national declaration of a state of emergency on the 24th of September due to the damages and losses caused by the heavy rainy season. At the moment, this emergency has been considered of medium scale. However, if the rain continues, it could aggravate the situation further. To date, 18 departments of the country have been affected. According to data provided by COPECO (Secretary of State in the Offices of Risk Management) and CODEM (Municipal Emergency Committee), 9 casualties and 51 wounded people have been reported, while 6,792 families have been confined. Overall, 14,320 families and 56,763 people have been affected. The ACT Forum Honduras, through its members CASM and OCDIH, is foreseeing applying for an RRF to provide joint humanitarian assistance to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the affected population in the sectors of Psychosocial support, WASH, Cash/Vouchers, Food Security/Nutrition, Household items, and Livelihoods.

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Located in the northeast of Uganda, Karamoja is one of the poorest regions in Uganda, with income poverty at 66% (having increased from 61% in 2017) and food poverty at 75% has increased from 70% in 2017 (UBOS: UNHS 2019/20).

This year, the Karamoja region has suffered widespread crop losses and harvest failure due to delayed rains resulting in hunger. The area is suffering a prolonged drought since 2020. The hunger situation is made worse by attacks from plagues of locusts and armyworms all of which have affected crop production in the region during the past 2 years.

ACT Uganda national forum member Church of Uganda (CoU) is proposing to provide food initially, then support affected communities to reduce Gender Based Violence and increase protection. In the medium to long term, CoU plans to support farmers in farming (conservation farming) and environment protection.

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