News Listing

Affected country: Comoros
Glide: EP-2024-000014-COM
Following confirmed tests, the Comoros Ministry of Health declared a cholera epidemic on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 8 p.m. local time. A Cholera Treatment Center (CTC) has been activated in Samba to treat cholera cases (hospital on the outskirts of Moroni). This has been confirmed by the Dar Es Alam Laboratory and reaffirmed by the Comoros Ministry of Health. The spread of cholera is progressing steadily. The first locally transmitted cases appeared on Monday, February 5, 2024. As of February 11, a total of 33 cases were confirmed (13 being treated in the CTC, and two deaths registered from Grande Comores). (IFRC, 20 Feb 2024)

Affected country: Ecuador
Glide: FL-2024-000015-ECU
Heavy rainfall has been affecting northern and western Ecuador, in particular Esmeraldas, Manabí and Los Rios Provinces since 30 January, causing floods that have resulted in population displacement and damage.
According to the WHO/PAHO, the Ecuadorian Government and media, as of 2 February, more than 3,100 people have been affected across Esmeraldas, Manabí and Los Rios Provinces. In addition, more than 800 damaged houses and over 200 assisted people by national authorities were reported in the Esmeraldas Province. (ECHO, 2 Feb 2024)

Affected country: Colombia
Glide: DR-2024-000013-COL
On 27 January 2024, by Decree No. 037, the Government of Colombia declared a National Disaster Situation for a period of 12 months, due to the impact of the "El Niño" phenomenon, which is a climate variability phenomenon that occurs every two to seven years due to the warming of the Pacific Ocean ... The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD, by its initials in Spanish), through Circular 065 of 18 December 2023, sent to the territories and other members of the National Disaster Risk Management System the guidelines for the preparation and readiness for the events under the influence of the "El Niño" phenomenon 2023-2024, where it is indicated that excess and deficit of precipitation may occur depending on the territory, generating water shortages for aqueducts, mass movements, water shortages for crops, floods, water shortages for animals, gales, forest fires, torrential floods, frosts, river erosion, among others. (IFRC, 10 Feb 2024)

Affected country: Chile
Glide: WF-2024-000010-CHL
Wildfires have been burning across parts of central Chile, particularly in the regions of Valparaíso, O’Higgins and Maule resulting in casualties and damage. According to the Chilean National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED), at least 112 people have died following the wildfires. The worst-hit area is Complejo las Tablas- Reserva Lago Peñuelas where at least 8,500 ha have burnt. In addition, media report 200 missing people in and around Viña del Mar City (Valparaíso). The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMSR715) was activated in rapid mapping mode on 4 February to provide the damage assessment and one map has been published so far. For the next 48 hours, according to the JRC Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), the fire danger forecast is from moderate to extreme over central and north-western Chile. (ECHO, 5 Feb 2024)

Affected country: Lebanon
Glide: CW-2024-000007-LBN
Lebanon and the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea are currently affected by a low depression accompanied by polar winds, leading
to a noticeable drop in temperatures and unstable weather conditions since the start of the winter. From 24 to 29 January 2024, the Met
Services released a statement about the escalation of the depression, accompanied by a mass cold wave forming Storm Daniella which led
to snowfall with peak impact on 26 January 2024. The storm also caused heavy rainfalls across the country with severe winds and
snowfall. There was a heavy decline in the temperature, reaching subzero degrees in mountainous areas and 3 degrees in Bekaa.
This storm impacted several governorates in Lebanon specifically mountainous areas in Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, North and South regions.
The cold wave has impacted the affected communities in varying degrees. (IFRC, 2 Feb 2024)

Affected country: Marshall Islands
Glide: SS-2024-000006-MHL
On the night of 22 January 2024, a significant water and wave-related event occurred due to a potent winter storm system in the far northern Pacific. This event primarily impacted the Marshall Islands, particularly the Roi Namur Islet in the northern sector of Kwajalein Atoll, which is part of the US Military base. Notably, this incident involved weather-driven waves and inundation, distinct from a tsunami.
The powerful winds associated with the storm system generated a substantial swell that affected Roi-Namur and other areas such as Arno Atoll and the runway in Ailinglapalap. There are suspicions that additional islands and atolls (namely: Jaluit, Arno, Namu, Alinglaplap, Wotje, Jabot, Namdrik, Kili, Kwajalein) may have been affected, although ground reports are limited and experiencing delays due to communication and infrastructure challenges.
Collectively, a total of 19,532 people live on those islands. In the neighboring Federated State of Micronesia (FSM), islands also encountered inundation, leading to evacuations from coastal areas in Kosrae. According to information from NOAA, this event appears to be more severe than the flood in December 2008 that affected RMI and is comparable to the December 2021 King Tide inundation event across the FSM. (IFRC, 31 Jan 2024)

Affected country: Philippines
Glide: LS-2024-000003-PHL
Heavy rainfall continues to affect Mindanao Island, southern Philippines, triggering landslides, causing floods, and leading to casualties and damage. According to media, at least seven people died and ten others are still missing following a landslide that occurred in Davao de Oro Province, Davao Region, south-eastern Mindanao. In addition, the ASEAN Disaster Information Network reports more than 10,000 evacuated people in 37 evacuation centres and 218,400 affected people in the Davao Region. In Caraga Region, 26,750 individuals were displaced and sheltered in 40 evacuation centres and 51,800 people were affected following floods and landslides. (ECHO, 19 Jan 2024)
The amount of casualties and damage is still increasing following the effects of the Shear Line that caused widespread landslides and floods in Mindanao Island since 15 January. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 18 people died and eight were injured in Davao Region. In addition, more than 975,000 people have been affected, of whom 908,654 in Caraga and 66,652 in Davao and more than 500 are still evacuated. (ECHO, 31 Jan 2024)
Heavy rainfall has been affecting the eastern Mindanao Island, southern Philippines since 29 January, causing floods and triggering landslides that have resulted in population evacuation and damage. ADINet reports, as of 2 February, more than 2,500 evacuated people in 23 evacuation centres and a total of nearly 3,100 affected people across Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental Provinces, Davao Region. In addition, the same source reports over 9,500 evacuated people in 37 evacuation centres, a total of approximately 35,000 affected people, three damaged houses, and one damaged bridge throughout the Caraga Region. (ECHO, 2 Feb 2024)
From 28 January to 02 February, the Northeast Monsoon and the trough of the Low Pressure Area brought continued heavy rains that resulted in landslides and massive flooding in Davao and Caraga region. As of 06 February, NDRRMC reported for validation 18 dead and 11 missing persons. Almost 1.1 million persons were affected while 354,000 are currently displaced. These are the same areas that were affected by heavy rains due to shearline in early January 2024. (OCHA, 6 Feb 2024)
Following the landslide that occurred on 6 February in Maco Municipality in Davao de Oro Province, Mindanao Island, southern Philippines, the number of casualties is increasing. According to media reports, at least seven people died, 48 are still missing and 31 have been injured due to a landslide that hit three passenger buses. More than 750 families have been evacuated to evacuation centers and 62 houses have been damaged. (ECHO, 8 Feb 2024)
Two earthquakes of 5.8 M (5.9 M according to national authorities) and 5.4 M in northern Mindanao Island on 10 February halted search and rescue activities of people buried by a landslide that hit the mountain village of Masara in Davao de Oro Province (Davao Region, bordering the Caraga Region) on 6 February and resulted in 54 fatalities and 63 still missing people. (ECHO, 12 Feb 2024)
The humanitarian impact is increasing following the landslide which occurred in the village of Masara in Davao de Oro Province (Davao Region, northern Mindanao, southern Philippines) on 6 February and the severe weather and flood events that hit several parts of Mindanao since early February. According to media, the death toll due to the landslide in Masara has climbed to 68, while 51 people are still missing. In addition, more than 321,000 people have been displaced and almost 1,4 million others affected across five regions of Mindanao Island. Humanitarian partners and national authorities are providing assistance for those affected. (ECHO, 13 Feb 2024)

Affected country: Zambia
Glide: DR-2024-000018-ZMB
The dry spell has from mid-January this year affected most of the central and southern half of the country, which has received less than normal rainfall leaving 1 million hectares of maize destroyed, almost half of the country’s maize cultivation. It is also projected that the drought will lead to a power deficit or 430 Megawatts and affect ground and surface water levels, with severe consequences for sectors beyond agriculture since +80 per cent of Zambia electricity generation comes from hydropower. (UNICEF, 4 Mar 2024)

Affected country: Brazil
Glide: FL-2024-000036-BRA
Heavy rainfall has been affecting south-eastern Brazil, in particular the Rio de Janeiro State over the last 48 hours, causing floods, flash floods and triggering landslides that have resulted in casualties and damage. Media report, as of 15 January, eleven fatalities and one person still missing across the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region. In addition, media also report the flooding of the subway network. The state of emergency was declared by the local authority over the Rio de Janeiro City area. Over the next 48 hours, more heavy rainfall with locally very heavy rainfall is still forecast over the whole Rio de Janeiro State. (ECHO, 15 Jan 2024)
Since 26 January, heavy rainfall has been affecting Bahia State, in north-eastern Brazil, causing floods that have resulted in casualties and damage. According to local authorities and to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), as of 30 January, four people died, of whom two in Castro Alves Municipality, other two in Aporá and Wanderley Municipalities respectively. At least 7,197 people have been displaced, the most affected Municipalities are Mutuípe, Medeiros Neto, Ilhéus, Muquém do São Francisco, Wanderley, and Cotegipe. A state of emergency has been declared for 14 Municipalities: Dário Meira, Cotegipe, Ilhéus, Medeiros Neto, Ibicuí, Anagé, Muquém de São Francisco, Iguaí, Quijingue, Wanderley, Jaguaquara, Ubaíra, Saubara and Milagres. (ECHO, 31 Jan 2024)
The toll of the floods continues to increase following the heavy rainfall that has been affecting Bahia State, central-eastern Brazil since 26 January. According to local authorities and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), as of 5 February, six people died, 9,751 have been displaced and 117,000 others affected across 34 municipalities. In addition, 24 of the 34 affected municipalities are under an Emergency Situation decree. For the next 24 hours, moderate to locally heavy rainfall is forecast across the affected state. (ECHO, 9 Feb 2024)
Heavy rainfall has been affecting Amapá State in northern Brazil since 13 February, causing floods that have resulted in population displacement and damage. According to Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reports, as of 16 February, at least 97 families have been evacuated in a shelter in Macapá Municipality in eastern Amapá State and several houses have been damaged due to floods. On 14 February a state of emergency was issued in the Macapá Municipality. Over the next 48 hours, more rainfall and isolated thunderstorms are expected over the southern Amapá State. (ECHO, 16 Feb 2024)
Following the heavy rainfall that has been affecting Brazil since 25 February, causing flooding and rivers overflow, the number of displaced people and damage are increasing. As of 29 February, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) reported that the displaced people are 20,182, of whom 6,627 are sheltered across 70 shelters in Acre State, on the border with Peru and Bolivia. In addition, Brasileia Municipality is isolated due to the overflow of the Acre River. The state of emergency is declared for the following Municipalities: Assis Brasil, Brasileia, Capixaba, Cruzeiro do Sul, Epitaciolândia, Feijó, Jordão Mâncio Lima, Marechal Thaumaturgo, Plácido de Castro, Porto Walter, Rio Branco, Santa Rosa do Purus, Sena Madureira, Tarauacá, and Xapuri. Over the next 48 hours, more rainfall and isolated thunderstorms are still forecast over the Acre State. (ECHO, 4 Mar 2024)
The number of displaced people and damage continues to rise, following the heavy rainfall that has been affecting Acre State in western Brazil since 25 February, causing flooding and rivers overflow. As of 7 March, according to the Government of Acre and to WHO PAHO, a total of 28,855 people have been displaced, out of which 10,033 housed in 102 shelters across 14 municipalities. In addition, the overflow of the Juruá River has affected 19,694 people in Cruzeiro do Sul Municipality. (ECHO, 8 Mar 2024)
Following the heavy rainfall that has been affecting south-eastern Brazil, in particular the Espirito Santo State and Rio de Janeiro State, causing floods and triggering landslides, the number of casualties and severe damage is increasing. As of 26 March, according to media reports, 27 people died, of whom 19 fatalities in Espirito Santo State, at least six people are still missing and five people have been rescued. In addition, more than 7,000 people have been displaced throughout the Espirito Santo State. Over the next 48 hours, more rainfall with locally heavy rainfall is forecast over the Rio de Janeiro and the Espirito Santo States. (ECHO, 26 Mar 2024)

Affected country: Zambia
Glide: EP-2024-000002-ZMB
A cholera outbreak which was first reported in
October 2023 has seen a dramatic increase in
transmission since mid-December. The country
has now recorded a cumulative 8,276 cases and
333 deaths, with 446 new cases and 23 deaths
in the past 24 hours according to a daily update
from the Ministry of Health2
resulting in a case
fatality rate of 4%. Thirty-one percent of the
cases are in children under five years old.
The outbreak initially emerged in peri-urban
areas of Lusaka Province, which still has the
most cases. But due to the high rate of
transmission, the disease is now affecting
people across multiple geographical areas.
Since the start of the current cholera outbreak,
nine out of the ten provinces have reported
cases of cholera with seven provinces
confirming cholera outbreaks. (IFRC, 10 Jan 2024)