Pakistan is in the grip of a blistering heatwave with parts of the country already scorched by extreme temperatures as officials warn of acute water shortage and health concerns.  April turned out to be the hottest month in the last 61 years, with Jacobabad registering 51 degrees celsius (123.8 F) on 15 May, 2022.  About 3.4 million people who are living below poverty line in Karachi and Umerkot are affected by the heat.  Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued drought alert on May 16, 2022 caused by less than normal rainfall and exacerbated by heatwave like conditions across the country as According to the United Nations’ ‘Global Land Outlook’ report, Pakistan is one of 23 nations that has experienced consistent drought in the last two years (2020-2022). Scientists have warned that the early arrival of a severe summer is linked to climate change, putting more than a billion people in the region at danger of heat-related consequences.

Community World Service Asia (CWSA) has accessed the Rapid Response Fund to support three heatwave facilitation centers in Sindh province that caters to at-risk communities.  These facilitation centers will be equipped with stretchers, pedestal fans, that can accommodate 10 to 15 people at any given time.  The centers will provide first aid treatment such as infusions, supplements, tablets for rehydration to the affected people.  

RRF 082022 Pakistan Heatwave

The Horn of Africa is experiencing one of its most severe droughts in recent history, with more than 15 million people acutely food insecure in three affected countries of Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

The drought could be catastrophic for people and livestock. The key gaps are poor access to food, safe water, basic education, support for livelihoods, psychosocial, and protection (due to migration of affected Households).

Within the three countries, the drought has affected food security, trade, labor, and migration. Women are affected by a lack of access to food and safe water and children are susceptive to high rates of mortality and mobility due to malnutrition, and reduced access to quality food. Animals have lost their lives due to a lack of pasture and water.

The current drought is already historic in its length and severity, and forecast models are now signaling an elevated likelihood that the Oct-Dec 2022 short rain seasons will also be below average (OCHA, May 2022).

ACT Alliance members in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia have raised a regional Horn and East Africa appeal in response to the drought.

HEA 221 Response to Drought

HEA221 Consolidated Results Framework

Super typhoon Rai, locally named Odette, brought torrential rains, violent winds, floods, storm surges and mudslides to Central and Southern Philippines in the afternoon of December 16, 2021. The 15th typhoon to hit the country and considered as one of the world’s strongest storms last year, STY Rai left a wide path of destruction and debris in high-risk areas in at least seven regions including MIMAROPA, Western, Central and Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, SOCCKSKARGEN, and CARAGA, affecting over 9.9 million people in 531 municipalities.

STY Rai left 1.57 million damaged houses, 500,000 more than of Haiyan, across 11 of the Philippines’ 17 regions. Of these, 423,492 are totally destroyed and the most affected provinces are Cebu, Bohol (Region VII) and Surigao del Norte (Region XIII), accounting for 61% of destroyed homes. More than a month after Rai’s onslaught, around 180,000-200,000 people remain displaced, either staying in evacuation centers or with family and relatives or other temporary housing.

ACT Philippines Forum members, National Council of Churches in the Philippines and World Renew will be responding in the severely affected regions of the country with an appeal budget of USD1,607,162.

PHL221 Typhoon Rai

Heavy rains hit different regions of Brazil, causing great damage. In the states of Sao Paulo (SP) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ), the most affected regions were: Metropolitan Region of the city of São Paulo and Alto Tiete region and the municipality of Petropolis – RJ. Between January 29 and 30, in SP, the amount of rain that hit the region was equivalent to the volume forecast for the entire month of January. In the city of Petropolis, RJ, on February 15, in just 3 hours, it rained a greater amount of rain than expected for the entire month of February. Such events have caused flooding, landslides, deaths, and other consequences.

In the city of Petropolis – RJ, the number of deaths reached 198 of these 119 are women and 79 men. Of this total, 37 are minors. 875 people are housed in 13 shelters according to official figures so far, however, there is still little information on the total number of families that were displaced. There is a greater fragility of aid in rural areas of Petropolis.

In the state of São Paulo, there are 5,770 homeless and displaced families and 37 affected municipalities. There are already 34 confirmed deaths as a result of flooding, flash floods and landslides. The highest number of deaths (18) is concentrated in the municipality of Franco da Rocha. This region still has dam infrastructure risk, which increases the severity of the scenario.
Brazil is still in the rainy season with the possibility of new heavy rains and the risk of new floods and landslides.

KOINONIA Presença Ecumênica e Serviço will provide assistance to the affected people through provision of food, cash assistance, and hygiene kits.

RRF 04 2022 Brazil Floods FINAL_adjusted

The Global Rapid Response Fund (GRRF) is an annual funding appeal administered by the ACT Alliance secretariat. The fund prioritises ACT local and national members in line with our localisation commitments and in recognition of the distinct advantage these members have in providing timely, high quality, locally led emergency response interventions. Funds for the RRF are provided by ACT Alliance members and non-members.

The revised ACT Humanitarian Policy came into effect on 01 January 2022. The policy reinforces our commitment to the localisation agenda. The tangible changes in the Global Rapid Response Fund, introduced under the revised Humanitarian Policy, reflect the primary role that local and national members play in humanitarian response within our Alliance. ACT Alliance through its national members has been at the forefront of supporting local responses, often in contexts that may not always attract the attention of the media and donors. In such contexts, the impact of disasters at community level can be profound, and it is in such instances where the relevance and effectiveness of local and national actors and faith-based organisations, as well as the reach of ACT Alliance, is clearly demonstrated.

The budget for this year’s GRRF is USD3,257,835, with last year’s balance carried over of USD1,484,913. The total request for funding for GRRF22 is USD1,772,922. The increased budget reflects the increased scope of the GRRF to include medium-scale crises, and the fact that funding will be accessed by more local members as the Appeal mechanism will be limited to large scale emergencies.

GRRF22 Appeal