News Listing

Affected country: Ethiopia
Glide: FL-2024-000074-ETH
Weeks of heavy rainfall and flooding in the East Africa region have triggered widespread displacement, with hundreds of thousands displaced across Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia and Tanzania. So far 637,000 people have been affected, including 234,000 displaced as of 3 May 2024, according to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, but the numbers keep rising. (IOM, 8 May 2024)
Heavy rainfall since early May has caused severe flooding, affecting 9 villages of the Gujis, in southern Oromia; flooding has also been reported in some areas of Sidama, Central Ethiopia and South Ethiopia. In West Guji alone, 120,481 people have been affected, with 102,128 people displaced and five deaths. (ECHO, 16 May 2024)

Affected country: Angola
Glide: EP-2024-000078-AGO
In the week of May 3rd, 2024, Angolan health authorities announced that polio had been detected in Chitato Municipality, Lunda Norte province, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A person infected with 'circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2' (cVDPV2) was confirmed. Although a polio outbreak had already been declared by the government on February 27th, 2024, due to environmental samples found in the provinces of Luanda and Huambo, the case on May 3rd was the first human case reported. The Government of Angola has classified the current outbreak as a Grade 2 emergency (i.e., moderate level – aligned with WHO classification) due to the high risk of virus spread, exacerbated by poor water and sanitation infrastructure and hard-to-reach populations. Additionally, there is an increased risk of cross-border transmission along the DRC-Angola border, with genetic sequencing indicating a link to a polio virus reported in the DRC's Cassai Oriental province, classified as cVDPV2 (Circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2). (IFRC, 24 May 2024)

Affected country: Uganda
Glide: FL-2024-000075-UGA
Since the end of April, heavy rainfall has been affecting several parts of Uganda, causing floods and leading to casualties and damage. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), as many as 49 people died, 28 are still missing, and 296 others have been injured. In addition, almost 18,500 people have been displaced and 39,185 affected across more than 15 districts of the country. For the next 48 hours, moderate rain is expected across the northern, central and southern parts of Uganda. With DG ECHO support, IFRC, through the Uganda Red Cross Society, is providing assistance with distribution of Non-Food Items (NFIs), de-silting kits to de-silt water channels and construct partly destroyed shelters, deployment of Red Cross volunteers, and is engaged in the search and rescue response along with district authorities. (ECHO, 15 May 2024)

Affected country: Lesotho
Glide: DR-2024-000071-LSO
According to the weather update for quarter 1 of 2024 issued by the Lesotho Meteorological Services, the persistent heatwaves and exceptionally high temperatures experienced between January and March 2024 have led to widespread dryness of crops across most fields. The continuous crop failures over the past seasons is exacerbated. The past two quarters have seen the same crop failure leading automatically to the high food prices. There are 41% of rural families spending more than half of their income on food while most of the families leave with low income. In two consecutive agricultural seasons (2021/2022 and 2022/2023), Lesotho experienced harsh climatic induced shocks such as hailstorms, pests and heavy rainfall/waterlogging in most parts of the country. On the other hands, the heavy rainfalls in late December 2023 and early 2024 led to waterlogged fields which resulted in crop failure. The inflation resulting from this crop failures or production failures have a direct incidence to the families already struggling with low income and other factors that make them more vulnerable to food insecurity. Approximately, 325,000 individuals are experiencing the ramifications of the ongoing food insecurity based on IPC information, stemming from the enduring drought that has gripped the nation for years and increased the food insecurity situation. This figure represents approximately 22% of the population. Eight districts on the ten in Lesotho are under Integrated Food Security Phase Classification 3 (IPC3), signifying a crisis state. Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek, Quthing, Thaba Tseka, and Leribe areas. In these districts, access to adequate food and nutrition is severely compromised, necessitating urgent intervention and support measures to alleviate the hardship faced by affected communities. (IFRC, 17 May 2024)

There are outbreaks of Oropouche fever in parts of Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. Travelers to affected areas should take steps to avoid bug bites. Country List : Brazil, Bolivia, Peru

Affected country: Bangladesh
Glide: HT-2024-000056-BGD
Based on the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) data source dated 21 April 2024, severe to very severe, heatwave was sweeping some districts of the country where mild-moderate heatwave was sweeping over most of the districts of the country. BDRCS forecast monitoring report indicates maximum temperatures exceeding to 38 degree Celsius, with the heat index surpassing 38 for two or more consecutive days. On 24 April 2024, severe heatwave (>=40 degree Celsius) was observed in the district of Rajshahi, Pabna, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jeshore and Patuakhali. On 26 April 2024, Bangladesh set all-time heatwave record as the Meteorological Office recorded 24 days of heatwave during the month of April breaching previous 23 days of heatwave in 2019. According to BMD dated on 27 April 2024, severe to very severe heatwave (>=40 degree Celsius) has been observed in the district of Rajshahi, Pabna, Chuadanga, Natore, Chapai Nawabganj, Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Jashore, Meherpur and Bogura. Moderate heat wave (>38- 39.9 degree Celsius) is sweeping over the district of Bagerhat, Satkhira, Barguna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Bhola, Pirojpur, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Sirajganj, Tangail, Jamalpur, Thakurgaon, Joypurhat, Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Faridpur, Madaripur, Magura, Manikganj, Rajbari, Gazipur, Gopalganj, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Naogaon, Gaibandha and it may spread. According to the observed heatwave, most impacted divisions are Rajshahi, Khulna, Rangpur, Dhaka and Barisal ... According to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) as of 30 April, a total of 10 people died of suspected heat stroke in different parts of Bangladesh. As the heatwave has been sweeping over the country, the government of Bangladesh declared closing of schools and colleges for one week up to 27 April and forced 33 million children out of schools in Bangladesh. According to daily Newspaper Prothom Alo, around 70 percentage of total Bangladesh population are impacted due to heatwave particularly people living in Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka and Barisal division for several days, causing significant hardship, particularly the people who are working outside in sun. (IFRC, 4 May 2024)

Affected country: Rwanda
Glide: FL-2024-000064-RWA
In Rwanda, heavy rains and floods killed 14 people in Nyanza District, injured 27 in Burera District and damaged roads, bridges and 123 houses since 28 April and as of 2 May. Several hectares of rice and banana plantation in Ruhango District have been damaged, according to local authorities. Heavy rainfall, ranging between 40-50 mm, with thunderstorms is predicted to affect 17 districts across Northern, Western and Southern provinces between 30 April and 4 May, according to the Rwanda Meteorology Agency. Burera, Nyanza, Gakenke, and Ngororero districts received the highest amount of rainfall ranging from 84 to 105.2 mm between 30 April and 2 May. Impact such as severe widespread flooding to rivers, swamps and low-lying areas, landslides and damage to infrastructure are likely. (OCHA, 3 May 2024)

Affected country: Kyrgyzstan
Glide: FL-2024-000053-KGZ
Since 20 April, heavy rainfall has been affecting the regions of Osh, Jalal-Abad and Talas (southern and eastern Kyrgyzstan) triggering several landslides, causing floods and resulting in casualties and damage. According to media, one person died on 20 April due to a landslide, while hundreds have been evacuated following floods in the Osh Region. Other mudslides occurred in the Jalal-Abad Region and resulted in 300 evacuated families. In addition, several roads have been closed due to both events. (ECHO, 24 Apr 2024)

Affected country: Somalia
Glide: FL-2024-000055-SOM
Heavy rainfall has been affecting Somalia since 19 April, causing floods, flash floods and river overflow that resulted in casualties and damage. According to UN OCHA, as of 22 April, four people died, of whom three in Somaliland (northern Somalia) and one in Hirshabelle State (south-central Somalia), 804 people have been displaced, 100 shelters have been destroyed and a school have been damaged across Somalia. Humanitarian partners are stepping up response across the country. For the next 24 hours, more rainfall is expected over north-western and south-western parts of Somalia. (ECHO, 23 Apr 2024)

Affected country: Indonesia
Glide: VO-2024-000046-IDN
Ruang volcano, located on Ruang Island (part of Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi Province), increased its volcanic activity on 16-17 April with explosions and emission of volcanic ash and lava. The worst hit areas are Pumpente Village and Pathology Village in Tagulandang District (Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province). According to the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), 828 people have been displaced, of whom 45 are in one evacuation centre and 783 are in the homes of relatives. National and local authorities are providing assistance for those affected and established an Emergency Response Status for 14 days starting from April 16. The level of the volcano has been raised from II to III, people cannot enter in the area radius of 4 km from the centre of the active crater. (ECHO, 17 Apr 2024)
Between 16 and 17 April three main explosive events occurred and the ash column reached up to 3 km above the summit of the crater. According to the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), 828 people (506 residents of Laingpatehi Village and 322 residents of Pumpente Village in Sitaro Regency) remain displaced. Local authorities are coordinating the emergency response and providing assistance in the form of 123 mats, 123 blankets and 400 masks to the community. The Multiplatform Application for Geohazard Mitigation and Assessment (MAGMA) has raised the alert level to IV (the maximum level). People who live in the Tagulandang Island area (located 1 km north-east of Ruang Island) and are within a radius of 6 km, especially those living close to the coast, should be immediately evacuated to a safe place. This is due to the potential incandescent rock ejection, pyroclastic flow, and tsunami waves that can be triggered by the collapse of the volcano. (ECHO, 18 Apr 2024)