On 27th of December 2017, the region of Paoua in the Central African Republic (CAR) was affected by fighting between armed groups, which signaled the start of a prolonged slow-onset crisis in this particular region. At least 78,000 People from the villages of Bah-Bessar, Mia-Pendé, Nana-Barya and Banhin Ouham Pende were forced to flee their homes in search of refuge and protection mostly fleeing to the city of Paoua.

Due to hosting IDPs over an extended period, the residents of Paoua city (the host population of around 40,000 people) have increasingly exhausted family resources are also now in need of support.

In June 2018, as fighting continued to decrease, IDPs from the city of Paoua (68,670), started returning to their villages, only to find burnt down homes, schools and destroyed livelihoods. Because of this desperation, many prefer to return to the city of Paoua to seek humanitarian assistance or other means of support and continue to live as IDPs in the city of Paoua.

There is necessity to save lives and alleviate suffering of people including children and women affected by the conflict in Paoua city and the villages in Ouham Pendé prefecture.

The ACT CAR Forum, which was officially established in 2018, is issuing this Call for Action to raise support and respond to the plight of IDPs, returnees and host communities in Ouham Pende; more specifically IDPs in Paoua city who would wish to resettle back to their villages. This initiative by the CAR Forum is seen as a crucial initial undertaking to strengthen how ACT Forum members work collaborate in responding to what has become a complex emergency.

ACT Alliance CAR Forum is monitoring the situation and emergency teams are ready/preparing to respond according to the results of a contextual analysis and rapid needs assessment.

CAR _Emergency Response to IDPS in Paoua City (Call For Action).

The human rights situation in Nicaragua as observed by the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in relation to the violent events that have been taking place since the State repressed the protests on April 18, 2018, and subsequent events over the following weeks. According to figures gathered by the IACHR, the State’s repressive action has led to at least 295 deaths, 1,337 persons wounded as of June 19, and 507 persons deprived of liberty as of June 6, and hundreds of persons at risk of becoming victims of attacks, harassment, threats and other forms of intimidation.  According to the government on July 28, the deaths were 195; it has been very difficult to keep an exact count since the revolt began in Nicaragua.

According to the Nicaraguan Association for Human Rights (ANPDH)) in its report as of July 11 indicates that there are 351 deaths (306 were civilians, 28 paramilitaries, 16 polices and a soldier one from the Army), 2,100 injured and 329 kidnapped. According to the Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUNIDES), there are two possible scenarios:  The first scenario assumes that the government accepts to leave, thus achieving a framework of understanding focused on issues of justice and democratization, ending repression, violence and citizen insecurity. In this scenario, the economic growth rate for 2018 would contract to -0.03 percent in relation to 2017 and the economy would face losses of US $638 million.  The second scenario assumes that there is no interest from the government to seek a negotiated solution to crisis, which leads to a prolonged and intensified crisis for the rest of the year. In this scenario, the economic growth rate would contract to -5.6 percent in relation to 2017 and the economy would face losses of US $1.4 billion. There are approximately 1.3 million people in risk of falling into poverty in the coming months. Likewise, the crisis has disrupted the daily routines and the collapse of the protection mechanisms of society, including the loss of the organizational referents of society, which has affected the physical and mental health of people.

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On 22 June 2018, the Peruvian government through its Council of Ministries issued the Supreme Decree N° 062-2018-PCM declaring 122 districts from the  high Andean areas from nine departments in state of emergency due to the damages caused by frost,  snowfall and heavy rains, causing negative effects on  health, education, as well as in agriculture and livestock activities. The severe weather significantly increased the cases of pneumonia and respiratory diseases; 556 cases of pneumonia among children under 5 years have been reported, as well as 185 fatalities.  According to the National Center of Epidemiology, Lima has the highest number of influenza AH1N1, followed by Piura, Puno, Cuzco, Madre de Dios and Tacna.  This season’s frost arrived earlier than usual and has already affected more than 104,579 Peruvians in 11 regions of the country.

In some areas, such as San Antonio de Putinas in Puno, temperatures plummeted to – 15 °C (5 °F), causing deaths of at least 6 children According to the Office of the Ombudsman, 15 schools were close as well as 02 health centers. 1,327 houses have been affect.  As of July 09, 2018, in Puno, people were affected by the cold snap,  12,027 animals have died and 1,224,426 were affected;  whereas in Cusco, there are 74,225 affected people, 18 affected houses, one affected school, 30 km of road were damaged, 2,287 animals have died  and 192,844 were affected. There are 5,059 hectares of damaged crops.

Due to the situation,  the ACT Alliance Forum in Peru through its local member DIACONIA  is preparing a RRF proposal  to provide humanitarian relief to the affected population.

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In the afternoon  of Wednesday the 13 June 2018, the districts of Branicevo, Kolubara, Sumadija, Podunavlje and Pomoravlje in Serbia, were affected with sudden heavy rainfall, hailstorm, downpour and in some parts incessant rain. On Friday 15 June, the Hydro-Meteorological Service of Serbia (RHMZ) announced more bad weather for the coming weekend. Over the week, hailstorms and heavy rain caused damage to crops and households in western, central, and eastern Serbia, prompting authorities to declare an emergency situation in several municipalities. A dam on the Busur River burst on 15 June, affecting areas in the east (Source: B92, Tanjug).

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As of 25 May 2018, Sub tropical storm Alberto, with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/hour, has passed over Cuba and brought torrential rainfalls (4 inches of water in 24 hours) causing overflowing of rivers and streams. According to Ministry of Interior, Flood waters swept away a bridge and damaged roads and other infrastructure, leaving many communities cut off and nearly 60,000 people without electricity. More than 51,000 Cubans have been evacuated in the affected area.  11 people reported dead, historical figure in Cuba, and 2 disappeared respectively across the affected territories.  Approximately 1,384 homes have been affected, with 174 totally collapsed. Reports on damages are still being completed.

An oil spill – which is now under control – was caused by heavy flooding at one of the nation’s main oil refineries in Cienfuegos. It has been controlled by local authorities. There has also been substantial damage in the agricultural sector, with crops such as rice, beans, tobacco and bananas particularly affected.  Concerns have also been raised about possible waterborne disease outbreaks.

Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba (CIC), an ACT Alliance member is going to provide emergency response to the affected population.

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