News Listing

Affected country: Peru
Glide: FL-2023-000036-PER
Piura Region (northern Peru) is currently affected by the effects of the Cyclone Yaku as well as heavy rains. Overflowing rivers have left four dead people and severe damage on 2,077 homes, 13 educational centres, 35 health establishments, 2,700 means of transportation and 4,730 irrigation canals. According to the Regional Emergency Operations Center in Piura (COER) there are 3,529 people affected by the rains. More than 580 districts of the north coast and mountains are at risk due to the torrential rains, which can cause landslides and mudslides, informed the National Institute of Civil Defense (Indeci). The cyclone Yaku is severely impacting Tumbes, Piura, and Lambayeque departments, generating floods, river overflowing and landslide. (ECHO, 11 Mar 2023)
The number of casualties is increasing following heavy rainfall, floods and landslides that have been affecting several Departments of Peru since the beginning of March. According to UN OCHA, at least 58 people have died while the National Institute of Civil Defense of Peru (INDECI) reports more than 24,000 affected people and more than 6,400 damaged or destroyed houses. The State of Emergency has been declared in the Departments of Cajamarca, La Libertad, Lambayeque and Piura for the impact due to the huge precipitations. (ECHO, 14 Mar 2023)

Affected country: Bangladesh
Glide: FR-2023-000031-BGD
In the afternoon of 5 March 2023, a massive and devastating fire broke out in Kutupalong Balukhali refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Flames blazed for some three hours in Camp 11, which is managed by IOM, until the Rohingya refugee Safety Unit Volunteers trained on firefighting, local fire fighters and local authorities managed to contain the fire, around 5pm. Three-wheeler Mobile Fire Fighting Units provided by UNHCR, were deployed from across the camps and helped reach the congested areas. So far, no casualties have been reported. Some 12,000 refugees were displaced, more than 2,000 shelters were destroyed or damaged, and more than 90 facilities were damaged including hospitals and learning centres. (UNHCR, 5 Mar 2023)
Although the cause of the fire incident remains unknown as no official reports have been released by the government, however, the current season, wind intensity and direction as well as the type of materials used for the settlement and density of shelters, have been key contributing factors as to why the fire had spread rapidly and engulfed its surrounding areas. Based on situation reports dated 6 March 2023, more than 3,000 households or more than 15,000 individuals have been affected, with more than 5,000 individuals displaced. More than 2,800 shelters have been damaged (2,664 fully damaged; 141 partially damaged) including their household belongings such as blankets, sleeping mats, clothing, cooking materials, mosquito nets and hygiene related items. More than 1,000 WASH infrastructures were destroyed including three water networks, four Fecal Sludge Managment (FSM) Treatment plants, one Material Recovery Facility (MRF), 153 bathing cubicles, 538 latrine doors, and 351 tube-wells with hand pumps. Moreover, three Health facilities were destroyed, including one Health Post (HP)and two Primary Health Centers (PHCs). In addition, 155 critical infrastructures such as learning centers, Women Friendly Spaces, women-led community center, child friendly space, moktubs/mosques, have been reported to be destroyed including their equipment and materials being used. (IFRC, 11 Mar 2023)

Affected country: Vanuatu
Glide: TC-2023-000030-VUT
Tropical cyclone KEVIN-23 formed on March 1, 2023, over the South Pacific Ocean between Vanuatu and Caledonia and is moving southeast over the Vanuatu Islands.
On 3 March at about 06:00 UTC, the centre of the KEVIN-23 cyclone was located offshore approximately 85 km west of Port Vila with maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h and heavy rainfall. The cyclone came just a couple of days after Tropical Cyclone JUDY-23. UNOSAT

Affected country: Vanuatu
Glide: EQ-2023-000035-VUT
Vanuatu has been affected by two destructive cyclones and a 6.6 M earthquake between 1-4 March 2023. On 7 March, Vanuatu requested assistance from the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) for aerial capacities and vessels in support of possible evacuation, further assessment, and delivery of assistance to the people affected. (ECHO, 8 Mar 2023)
Vanuatu declared a state of emergency for the whole country. The UN, NDMO and the humanitarian community are carrying out a needs assessment. Early indications indicate widespread damage and destruction to shelter, structures made from local materials (including latrines, bush kitchens, and houses), infrastructures in general, loss of crops and home gardens, and lastly water and sanitation-related needs. Port Vila and Tanna Island are the most affected areas. (ECHO, 10 Mar 2023)
The disasters have caused widespread damage and destruction. The cost of damages is estimated at US$50 million. About 30,000 households are affected, and 5,000 people are still displaced in evacuation centres. Fifteen days after the disasters, food security, lack of drinkable water, and water-borne disease risks are a growing common concern among stakeholders. (ECHO, 13 Mar 2023)

Affected countries: Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Glide: EC-2023-000028-VUT
Tropical cyclone JUDY passed over northern and central Vanuatu, approximately 7 km east to the Capital City Port Vila (Shefa Province, central Vanuatu) in the afternoon and evening (UTC) on 28 February with maximum sustained winds up to 157 km/h (Tropical Cyclone). On 1 March at 6.00 (UTC) its centre was located approximately over the Tanna Island (Tafea Province, southern Vanuatu), with maximum sustained winds up to 165 km/h. (ECHO, 1 Mar 2023)
According to the first estimate, 100% of the population have been affected with wind below 80 km/h and about 50% with wind between 80 to 200 km/h. The main affected provinces are Shefa and Tafea. The damages are severe to extreme, and a second potential Category 3 cyclone is expected in the next 1 to 2 days. Up to 50,000 children may be affected. UNICEF Vanuatu Field Office also predicts that some schools will be affected, although all remain closed for the time being. Staff are ready to be deployed where necessary, emergency pre-positioned supplies are ready to be delivered to assist over 20,000 people. (UNICEF, 2 Mar 2023)
On the morning of 2 March (local time) the centre of tropical cyclone JUDY was about 245km south-east of Tanna and 150km south-east of Aneityum. JUDY's destructive winds uprooted trees and some people were evacuated. Damage assessments are ongoing in Port Vila and Vanuatu's northern islands while another storm is forecast to be on its way. Media reports, as of 2 March, around 500 evacuated people in some evacuation centres across the Capital City Port Vila and a number of damaged buildings, closed schools and several power outages across the country. There are no reports of deaths or serious injuries in Port Vila caused by cyclone JUDY, however, the islands of Erramango and Tanna were expected to be hit hard. Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and floods were still expected over the northern islands. Some NGOs are coordinating with the government and prepositioning Non Food Items for shelter and cooking materials. In addition, tropical depression 09F (cyclone KEVIN) is forming in the Pacific. The storm is expected to move south-east bringing gale force winds to Vanuatu on 2 March and later to New Caledonia. The Fiji Meteorological Service issued a gale warning. (ECHO, 2 Mar 2023)

Affected countries: Madagascar, Mozambique
Glide: TC-2023-000023-MDG
Intense Tropical Cyclone FREDDY, a particularly powerful and compact tropical system, will likely pass just north of La Rèunion on 20 February, and is forecasted to make landfall in Madagascar on 21 February. FREDDY represents a significant flood risk for Madagascar as soils are already saturated in central parts of the island from the impact of Cyclone Cheneso, which stalled off the west coast of the island and brought torrential rains in late January that affected over 90,000 people with 33 people killed and 20 people still missing. Currently, about 34,000 people are still homeless. At the same time, over 89,090 people have been affected by extreme weather events in Mozambique since the beginning of the rainy season. Over 15,00 people are currently displaced due to the floods in Southern Mozambique alone. Authorities have issued warnings on expected heavy rains over the next days, while reading from the water stations downstream the Zambezi River are all above warning levels. On top of this, Tropical Cyclone Freddy is forecasted to make landfall in Mozambique on the evening of 23 February. (ECHO, 17 Feb 2023)

Affected country: Mozambique
Glide: FL-2023-000018-MOZ
Between 7-10 February, heavy rains reaching up to 100 mm in 24 hours hit the southern region of the country, causing widespread flooding in Maputo city and Maputo province. According to the National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD), the rain already affected some 30,605 people (5,721 families), displaced 422 people, and killed four people. Five accommodation centres have been established that are currently hosting 422 people.
According to preliminary data from authorities, eight houses have been partially destroyed and 4,286 have been flooded, while five health units and 13 schools across the province have been reportedly damaged by the rain. Power cuts have been reported in all the areas affected – particularly around the basins of the rivers Maputo, Incomáti, and Umbelúzi – where the alert level has been reached. Movement across the region has also been curtailed. The Provincial Delegation of the National Roads Administration (DPANE) reported that the roads N2 (Matola/Boane), N3 (Impaputo/Goba), R408/CrzR407, CrzR407/CrzN3, N200, R406 (Salamanga/Catuane), R402 (Moamba/Sabie), and NC (Mazambanine/ETA) are currently impassable.
The National Institute of Meteorology (INAM) warned that heavy rains and strong winds will continue to hit the southern provinces of the country, possibly for the next 14 days. Authorities estimate that an additional 53,000 people could be affected as a result of weather conditions combined with water releases in dams further upstream. Humanitarian partners are monitoring the situation and mobilising to support government-led efforts. (OCHA, 11 Feb 2023)

Affected country: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Glide: EQ-2023-000007-IRN
An earthquake of 5.8 M at a depth of 10 km occurred in north-western Iran (near the border with eastern Turkey) on 18 January at 10:08 UTC (13:38 local time). The epicentre was located inland approximately 13 km south of Khoy City (Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province). USGS PAGER estimates that up to 28,000 people were exposed to very strong shaking and up to 294,000 people to strong shaking. The earthquake was followed by an aftershock of 4.4 M at a depth of 18 km occurred in the same area approximately 11 km north-west of the epicentre of the main event. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reports, as of 19 January, 194 injured people and around 500 damaged houses across the area of Firoraq City and Khoy City (both in Khoy County). (ECHO 19 January 2023)
According to the Iranian Seismological Center, a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit Firoragh village in Khoy city in West Azarbayejan province of North-Western Iran on 18 January 2023 at 13:19 p.m. local time at a depth of 12 km. At 13:19 p.m., a 3.6 magnitude earthquake struck the same location. So far, twenty-one aftershocks have been recorded, with the largest being 4.2 at 18:25 p.m. The nearest village, Vaar, is 10 kilometers away from the epicenter. An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 that struck the same region on 5 October 2022, left 1,308 people injured.The most severely affected village during the last earthquake was Morteza Gholi Kendi, which is located in Khoy City. One province and one city (55 villages) make up the affected area, which has a total of about 10,284 households (41,426 people). In Khoy city, the Firoragh district has been hardest affected. The tremor has been felt by residents of the cities of Salmas, Chaldoran, Chaypareh, Poldasht, and Uroumia. Due to active faults in numerous locations of the country, Iran is prone to several disasters, including earthquakes. The activated fault in this location that generated the earthquake is known as Siyah Cheshme-Khoy. (IFRC, 7 Feb 2022)

Affected countries: Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye
Glide: EQ-2023-000015-TUR
Close to 2,000 deaths have been reported in Türkiye and north-west Syria on 6 February as a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck southern Türkiye at 4:17 am. This is Türkiye's most powerful earthquake recorded since 1939. At least 78 aftershocks have been reported followed by a second earthquake of 7.5 magnitude at 13:24 with the epicenter in Ekinozu/Kahramanmaras province. Tremors were reportedly felt in Gaziantep and neighboring provinces. The Government of Türkiye has since issued a Level 4 alarm, calling for international assistance. The earthquake also heavily impacted north-west Syria, a region where 4.1 million people depend on humanitarian assistance today. The majority are women and children. At this time, Syrian communities are simultaneously hit with an on-going cholera outbreak and harsh winter events including heavy rain and snow over the weekend. The humanitarian response is largely overstretched with a funding gap of 48 per cent identified for the last quarter of 2022 (US$371.1 is required out of 802.1 million). (OCHA, 6 Feb 2023)
As the death toll continues to grow, on 7 February the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) reported 769 deaths and 1,448 injuries, mainly in Aleppo, Lattakia, Hama, Idleb countryside and Tartous. Alert status has been announced in all public and private health facilities. Media sources mentioned that mosques, churches, and schools were opened to receive the affected people. On 6 February, the Ministry of Education announced suspending teaching in all schools in Syria until the end of the week. [...] The Governorates of the southern region: Damascus, Rural Damascus, Dar’a, As-Sweida and Quneitra were not significantly impacted. However, the risk of building collapse in the event of another disaster is high in the mountain areas of Damascus and the illegal residential areas. (OCHA, 7 Feb 2023)

Affected country: Zambia
Glide: EP-2023-000013-ZMB
Ministry of Health declared the Cholera outbreak in Zambia in a Press conference on 26 January. The epidemic count of 21 cases registered from 21st to 30 January 2023 in the Vubwi district. On 27 January, there were 13 suspected cases, 6 confirmed, 12 admitted, 7 discharged, and one death. The Ministry of Health (MoH) has indeed declared the vigilance state to the population at risk (53,080 people) and requested all stakeholders to support the efforts to stop the spread of this outbreak. According to the minister, 719 people have been identified as contact persons in six villages. (IFRC, 3 February 2023)