20 May 2015 – Typhoon Haiyan, (locally known as Yolanda), slammed into eastern Philippines on 8 November 2013. Haiyan, the strongest typhoon in recorded history ever to make landfall, created winds and storm surges that killed more than 6,300 people and caused catastrophic damage to the affected areas. 44 provinces, 57 cities, 591 municipalities and 12,129 barangays were impacted, affecting more than 16 million people. Over 1 million homes were destroyed. The provinces of Leyte and Samar, where Haiyan initially made landfall, were among the most affected. The super typhoon created an estimated $2.04B in damage, including major damage to the agricultural sector. Fisher folk and small-scale coconut farmers, already among the poorest in the agricultural sector, suffered tremendous losses.

Appeals_05_2015_Typhoon Haiyan Rehabilitation_PHL151

The situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) took a dramatic turn following the March 2013 Coup d’Etat, with the conflict escalating into unprecedented levels of violence. The events that took place in Bangui in December 2013 constituted a peak in the conflict bringing the capital in a cycle of reprisals among citizens, with violent clashes between (largely Christian) Anti‐Balaka and (mainly Muslim) ex-Seleka that spread across the country. Violence in CAR has caused massive internal displacements, which has divided the country along ethno‐religious lines, and had a regional impact, pushing hundreds of thousands to flee the country (to Cameroon, Chad, the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo). As of March 2015, around 442,000 people remained internally displaced in CAR and daily violent clashes continue to displace thousands already living in dire conditions.

Appeals_04_2015_ Assistance to Support & Protect War Affected Vulnerable Communities in the Central African Republic_CAF151

10 April 2015 – This version of the extended and revised appeal (revision 2) replaces the 1st revision, issued on 24th November 2014, now removed from our web site. Text for this revision is in blue. Iraq currently has one of the largest populations of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the world; at least 2,400,000 as of 26th August 2014 (Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre). From January to September 2014 the IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) identified 1,709,178 internally displaced individuals in Iraq. The Sinjar Crisis triggered the most recent wave of displacement, contributing approximately 42% of the overall number of IDP families in Iraq, following intense fighting and the violent persecution of ethnic and religious minorities by Islamic State (IS) extremists.

Appeals IRQ141_Iraq_responsetoIDPs

30 March 2015 – Since the beginning of February 2015, the state of Acre and part of the state of Amazonas, located in North Region of Brazil, suffer from heavy rains, resulting in Acre and Purus rivers and its tributaries, rising levels and consequent floods. According to the Ministry of National Integration, in Rio Branco, capital of Acre, the Acre river exceeded the historical level reached in 1997 of 17.66 meters, reaching 18.40 meters in early March this year. The most affected municipalities were the capital Rio Branco, Brasiléia, Tarauacá, Feijó, Epitaciolândia, Porto Acre, Assis Brasil and Sena Madureira.

The flooding of Acre and Purus rivers also affects the state of Amazonas, especially on the border with Acre. There, the most affected municipalities to date are Boca do Acre, Canutama, Tapauá, Carauari and Pauini, where 240 families Apurinãs (indigenous people) live in communities located along the Purus River and its tributaries. Their crops were destroyed and they are without access to clean water.

Communities are helpless, with no support from government organizations, including the official indigenous body of Brazil, Funai. One of the major difficulties is the distance to the villages. To access the village that is most distant from Pauini a boat trip of 5 days is needed (10 days return trip). Also, 210 families living on river banks areas of the Acre River are in need due to the extent of their losses on food, cattle and household items, these communities are completely isolated and without communication since the floods.

Rapid Responses Funds 04_2015_Brazil_floods

23 March 2015 – The first revision of ACT appeal UKR151 is hereby issued. This revision replaces the full appeal issued on 30 January 2015, now removed from our web site. All changes in the text are highlighted in blue. As a result of the Crimean crisis and the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine the humanitarian situation arising from this conflict has deteriorated dramatically. Fighting began in April 2014 between militia groups in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine, demanding autonomy / independence for their territory from the central authorities of Ukraine, and on the other side the forces and armed groups under the central government in Kiev. The rise in numbers of refugees and internal displaced persons (IDPs) in the past month coincides with a recent deterioration of the situation, worsening law and order, fear of abductions, human rights violations and the disruption of state services.

Appeals UKR151_Ukraine_and_Russia_response_revision1

23 March 2015 – On 16 January 2015 Cyclone Chedza hit the south‐western part of the country in the regions of Menabe and Melaky with heavy rains accompanied by strong winds of 100km/hr and a displacement of 15km/hr causing severe damage and massive flooding in most parts of North West of Madagascar. On 7 February 2015 Tropical Storm Fundi battered the coast of the southern region of Madagascar bringing sustained winds to the region worsening the situation following the passage of Cyclone Chedza. Prior to this, the region had been experiencing severe drought impacting on the community with wide spread famine.

Appeals MDG151 amended cyclones and floods in Madagascar

20 March 2015 – On Friday 13 March a category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam lashed the islands of Vanuatu bringing with it destructive winds surpassing 300kph, heavy rainfall, storm surges and flooding. The eye of the cyclone passed close to Efate Island, where the capital Port Vila is located causing extensive and widespread damage. Large parts of the country have been severely affected and there is particular concern for the 83 southern‐most islands of Tafea Province including Erromango and Tanna as well as the northern islands of Sanma, Penama and Torba Province. Most recent reports indicate a critical need for food and purified water.

Appeals VUT151_PreliminaryAppeal_Final_20_March2015

18 March 2015 – The deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) surfaced in West Africa for the first time in 2013, affecting Guinea, Liberia, Senegal and Nigeria. It appeared in Guinea in December 2013 and spread into neighbouring Sierra Leone by April 2014. This virus is considered one of the most aggressive that has no cure to date. It can kill within one week of exposure or three to four days from when the first symptoms become apparent. The fatality rate is very high (90%) if the infected person receives no treatment. As of 12 March 2015, 8,463 confirmed cumulative cases have been reported in the districts of Sierra Leone resulting in 3,289 confirmed deaths. The situation is well on the way to being under control.

Appeals SLE141_Rev_1_18March2015

25 February 2015 – For more than 12 months hostilities have affected the South Sudanese population, steaming from a power struggle between the incumbent President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Dr. Riek Machar. On the evening of the 15th December 2013 violence erupted in Juba when Mr. Kiir accused Mr. Machar of staging a coup. This violence has since prevailed. Until today over 1.5 million people have been internally displaced (UN OCHA) and more than 630,000 have fled to the neighbouring countries of Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia (UNHCR) due to the ongoing and often ethnically based violence between Dinka and Nuer tribes, as well as an increasing threat of food insecurity.

Appeals KEN151_SSudan_Refugees

24 February 2015 – Chad is affected by conflicts in neighbouring countries, notably the Central African Republic, Sudan,  and with a population to more than 460,000 refugees (367,000 Sudanese, 93,000 Central Africans) living in refugee camps in the east and South of the country. In late 2013, a massive repatriation of Chadians from CAR took place. A total of 114.000 persons returned back to Chad in 2014 ‐ of which 61,000 are still living in tents and shelters in transit and temporary sites. In January 2015 more than 15,000 Nigerians fled to Chad because of attacks by Boko Haram. The returnees and new refugee arrivals have put additional burdens on the host communities, who are already affected by the degradation of the environment caused by deforestation, over-exploitation of groundwater and pressure on scarce natural resources.

Appeals TCD151_Refugees in Chad