In the evening of Tuesday the 25 June 2019, the region of Irkutsk in Russia, was heavily flooded. From June 25 to July 1 various areas of Irkutsk region in Russia and neighboring regions were hit by long heavy rains. The maximum amount of precipitation fell in the Western, Southern and Central territories of Irkutsk region: here in three days the amount of precipitation reached from 1.5 to 4 months averages. The current flood in the Irkutsk region broke the record highs both in terms of the level of precipitation and the water level of rivers that flooded the banks. Heavy rains led to the rise of rivers, specifically the tributaries of the Angara river which rose by 10-14 meters, much higher than the critical mark. According to officials, more than 37 thousand people have been affected to date, including more than 7,000 children; 25 persons were killed, 11 are missing; 410 hospitalized; and 2,563 were evacuated. 110 settlements and cities were flooded, 48 sections of roads were covered by water, and 20 bridges were damaged. About 6,700 houses were flooded or swept away. In seven districts of the Irkutsk region, a state of emergency was declared, with three of them (Tulun, Nizhneudinsk, and Taishet) almost completely flooded.

The floods have put the region 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: safe shelter and basic non-food items and safe drinking water, as well as sanitation and hygiene infrastructure.

Alerts_Russia_Irkutsk Floods

Heavy rains have affected different regions in Bolivia. Overflowing rivers and floods were reported in Alto Beni, Palos Blancos, Guanay, Rurrenabaque, Riberalta, Villa Montes, Cutaiqui, San Borja and San Buenaventura. According to the Ministry of Defense reports, 79 municipalities (of 338 in the country) are under a state of disaster and 25 are under a state of emergency. A total of 47,125 families suffered partial loss of assets, 23,683 families have been left homeless, 34 people were reported dead and 26 people are missing. The Government has reported that the greatest number of affected people are found in Potosí, La Paz, Chuquisaca, Beni, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba – more than 70,000 families affected between February and April. Major damages include loss of crops, housing and other assets. The rains that have been falling since the beginning of the year, influenced by the El Niño phenomenon, have caused different degrees of impact. On 2 and 3 of April, heavy rains affected areas between the departments of Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz, affecting 3,059 families in two municipalities in Monteagudo and Cami. The Bolivian Government declared a national emergency on 27 February, and on 10 April declared an emergency for the departments of Potosí, La Paz, Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.

The Methodist Church from Bolivia, through its Rural Development Department is going to provide food security and psychosocial support to 500 affected households.  The RRF will contribute to assist the needs of native indigenous households living in very remote communities from the departments of Potosi and Beni.

RRF_Floods_Bolivia_06_2019

The humanitarian context of the oPt is unique among today’s crises. A protracted protection crisis continues in the oPt, which remains largely attributable to ongoing occupation, now in its 52nd year, and the continuing internal Palestinian divide.    Recent developments in the occupied Palestinian territories have become of deep concern. Since March 2018, 195 Palestinians, including 41 children, were killed and more than 26,000 injured during the Great March of Return protests.  There have also been several flare ups this year already.

The West Bank including East Jerusalem has also had its share of a deteriorating humanitarian situation socioeconomically and protection wise. The West Bank faces a complex system of control (both physical and bureaucratic) and thus restricting freedom of movement, access to livelihood as well as land (including grazing land) and natural water resources. Interventions to help Palestinians in restoring agricultural and farming inputs, expanding grazing lands, providing water resources and protection from forced evictions are urgently needed.

Alerts_Palestine_Protracted Crisis

Since 2015, communities in Burkina Faso have experienced armed attacks that have resulted in internal displacement. In December 2018, the number of IDPs was 39,000 (Cf. OCHA, Burkina Faso: Humanitarian Snapshot of 6 May 2019).

Since January 2019, communities in various localities have hosted some IDPs while the others (149,000) are registered in the four (4) camps established by the government.

The crisis has reached a new phase with intercommunity conflict. As of 24^th April 2019, there were 364 reported security incidents, which left 394 people dead (OCHA, Burkina Faso: Humanitarian Snapshot of 6 May 2019).

ACT Burkina Faso members Diakonia, Christian Aid and national organisations ODE (Office de Development des Eglises) and  Dignus  are planning to submit an appeal to provide Food and Nutrition Support, WASH (safe drinking water, hygiene latrines, and showers), Non-Food Items and temporary Shelter to ensure that the conflict-affected persons’ basic needs are met.

Burkina Faso_ Armed Conflict.

Heavy rainfall has been affecting southern Peru (particularly Arequipa, Moquegua, Tacna and Ica Regions) since February, causing rivers to overflow, triggering floods, landslides and mudslides. According to media reports, as of 13 February, ten people were killed, 1 800 injured and approximately 8 000 affected. Media reported 51 deaths and 79 injured people. Furthermore, 228 houses have been destroyed, 26 bridges have been demolished and several roads have been blocked by torrential rain and landslides.    On March 28 and 29 respectively the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI) declared a state of emergency for the provinces of Chanchamayo and the districts of Palca and (province of Tarma) and the district of Ulcumayo (province of Junin respectively).  On 17 April 2019, the Peru National Emergency Operations Center (COEN), reported landslides in the municipalities of Cajabamba and Distrital de Cachachi in the Cajamarca Region occurred on Monday, 15 April; families and communication networks were affected.   As of 4 April, at 8.00 UTC, media report that in Junin Region (central Peru) eleven people have been reported dead and at least 1 800 have been affected by the overflowing of rivers Chanchamayo, Paucartambo and Perené. Up to 30 houses have been reportedly destroyed and over 500 have been flooded.  Intense rainfall has been registered in San Martin Region (northern Peru), where the overflowing of the river Huallaga has affected 228 people and flooded 70 buildings, heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms are still expected and could affect mainland Peru, from the central areas to the south. A Level 4 warning has been issued for several districts in Arequipa, Puno, Tacna and Cuzco regions (southern Peru).    The government extended the state of emergency in several districts of the Huánuco and Pasco regions, due to disasters caused by mudslides and landslides due to heavy rains, with the purpose of continuing with the execution of immediate and necessary actions, response and rehabilitation that correspond. This extension is valid for 60 days, counting from April 17.

The ACT Alliance Forum through DIACONIA Peru and the Methodist Church are willing to provide emergency relief to  the affected community of Pucharini.  The Forum is currently is preparing a response proposal based on a quick needs assessment. Coordination meetings are taking place at country level, in coordination with ACT Secretariat Regional Office,

Alerts_Floods_Mudslides_Peru

Heavy rains have affected different regions in Bolivia. Overflowing rivers and floods have been reported in Alto Beni, Palos Blancos, Guanay, Rurrenabaque, Riberalta, Villa Montes, Cutaiqui, San Borja and San Buenaventura. According to the Ministry of Defense reports, 79 municipalities (of 338 in the country) are under a state of disaster and 25 are under a state of emergency as of April 8. A total of 47,125 families suffered partial loss of assets, 23,683 families have been left homeless, 34 people were reported dead and 26 people are missing. The Government has reported that the greatest number of victims are found in Potosí, La Paz, Chuquisaca, Beni, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba – more than 70,000 families affected between February and April. Major damages include loss of crops, housing and other assets. The rains that have been falling since the beginning of the year, influenced by the El Niño phenomenon, have caused different degrees of impact. On 2 and 3 of April, heavy rains affected areas between the departments of Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz, affecting 3,059 families in two municipalities in Monteagudo and Cami. The Bolivian Government declared a national emergency on 27 February, and on 10 April declared an emergency for the departments of Potosí, La Paz, Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.

The ACT Alliance Forum through its local member The Methodist Church in Bolivia is willing to provide emergency relief through a RRF in  five Municipalities belonging to the Departments of Beni and Potosí. (Tupiza, Villazon, Colquencha, San Borga, Rurrenabaque).

Alerts_Floods_Bolivia

In Tanzania, the locations of Same and Morogoro were hit by a heavy rainstorm accompanied by heavy winds in early March 2019. In both locations, there was massive destruction of roofs (houses, government institution facilities, churches and mosques) and massive destruction of food on farms, many livestock were lost.

To date, the affected displaced persons from both locations are being hosted by local community members. This hosting arrangement continues to be challenging as displaced and hosting communities continue to share limited space and resources. There is also a risk of gender-based violence. In addition, pupils from affected schools are affected by poor access education services due to the rainstorm destruction.

ACT Tanzania Forum member (TCRS) is planning on submitting a Rapid Response Fund Request to support the needs that are still pending among affected communities.

Alert-Rainstorm in Tanzania

On the morning of Friday the 15 March 2019, storm IDAI made landfall near Beira in Mozambique and brought strong winds and caused severe flooding in South-eastern Malawi.

Since then, the Southern and Central region of Malawi has been affected by consecutive days of torrential, continuous rains and severe flooding.

As of 16 March, the United Nations in Malawi reported that official data indicate that more than 922,000 people have been affected in 15 districts. There have been at least 56 deaths, 577 people injured and over 16,000 households displaced. In addition, crops, houses and livestock have been destroyed.

ACT Malawi Forum is working on a joint regional appeal with ACT forum members in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Alerts_Malawi_Cyclone Idai.

Heavy rains caused by powerful tropical Cyclone Idai hit the central and northern regions of Mozambique from 14th March 2019, leading to massive floods and leaving at least 202 people dead, according to the President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi. The death toll is expected to rise in the coming days. The situation is likely to deteriorate and the number of people affected is likely to increase, as weather experts predict heavy rainfall in Sofala and Manica provinces from 19 to 21 March. Flood waters may rise up to around eight metres and at least 350,000 people are at risk (OCHA Flash Update, 19 March). There are also growing concerns regarding the potential effects of the overflow of the Marowanyati Dam in Zimbabwe on water levels in Mozambique.

Most of the affected population are located in the provinces of Zambezia (districts of Chiunde, Luabo, Inhassugue, Mopeia, Nicoandala , Maquaival, Mocubela. Mulevala, Mocuba, Milage, Dere and
Qualimane), Niassa (districts of Cuamba and Madimba), and Sofala Province (districts of Buzi, Chemba, Caia, Cherigoma, Chibabava, Dondo, Gorongosa, Morremeu, Marrigue , Muaza amd Nhamantanda).

Based on initial assessments from ACT member Comité Ecuménico para o Desenvolvimento Social (CEDES)/Ecumenical Committee for Social Development, 683 of those affected in Zambezia by the floods have been identified as orphans and vulnerable children, and 165 have been identified as elderly. Moreover, 286 classrooms have been total destroyed forcing more 2,450 children out of schools. The damage to agricultural lands is also very significant, with at least 83,813 hectares of crops such as maize, cassava, sorghum and millets flooded, affecting 53,318 small farmers whose livelihoods depends on farm produce.

Alerts_Mozambique_Cyclone Idai