South America (except Colombia for HA) Date of submission 07/12/11 MONTHLY REPORT

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1 ANNEX IV-3 EUROPEAN COMMISSION HUMANITARIAN AID OFFICE (ECHO) Monthly report number 2011/11 Month November Country South America (except Colombia for HA) Date of submission 07/12/11 Author ECHO Quito team 1. SUMMARY / MAIN HIGHLIGHTS MONTHLY REPORT (1) Chile a Letter of Intent has been signed by the European Commission and the National Emergency Office of Chile (ONEMI), providing for closer collaboration in improving disaster prevention and preparedness, mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change. The EU and Chile agreed to strengthen cooperation in disaster management, in particular in the field of disaster risk reduction. (2) Ecuador Tungurahua Volcano eruption process: Tungurahua volcano considerably increased its activity accompanied by permanent explosions, pyroclastic flows, incandescent rocks, volcanic gravel and ash, affecting the north-western area of the volcano. Steam and ash columns reached 5 km high, while moderate ash fall and volcanic gravel has been registered in the localities of Bilibao, Manzano, Palictahuam Runtún, Pillate, Juive, Cotaló, Cusúa, and Riobamba. Orange alert has been issued and the volcano is under strict surveillance. Emergency Operations Committees are activated. (3) Argentina Puyehue - Cordon Caulle Volcano eruption effects: Incessant ash fall continues to severely affect southern localities in Argentina. Strong winds worsen the situation. Drought and permanent ash fall have considerably deteriorated the situation in the southern areas of the Patagonia. According to authorities, the eruption of the volcano chain has caused a "multifaceted emergency", especially for the precordillera (pre- Andean range zone) touristic areas and farming zones. (4) Venezuela overflowing of Valencia Lake: Ten municipalities in the States of Aragua and Carabobo (north) were declared in emergency due to heavy rains and overflowing of Valencia Lake; where at least 5,600 families were affected, and from which 2,500 families have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Humanitarian aid was provided. The government allocated 162 million bolívares (37, 6 million dollars) for construction of temporary housing, health, education and road reparation. (5) Chile Hudson Volcano and Puyehue Cordon Caulle volcano chain eruption process: Red alert is still activated in the south of the country due to the eruptive process of Hudson volcano and Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano chain. Volcanoes activity has decreased and is under strict surveillance. Puyehue Cordon Caulle permanent ash emissions continue to cause flight disruptions in Chile and Argentina. (6) Bolivia medium intensity earthquake in Beni Department: A 6.7 magnitude earthquake in the Richter scale was registered in Beni Department. Its epicenter was located 60 km southeast from San Ignacio de Moxos, in Moxos province, at a depth of 550 km. It was strongly felt in La Paz, Cochabamba and other regions. No victims or damages were registered. (7) Mrs. Dorothy Morrissey, Desk Officer for South America, visited Ecuador and Paraguay from 7 th to 18 th of November. During her mission several DIPECHO projects were monitored in Ecuador and Paraguay, including a project in Paraguay on the regional decision on drought management. 1/5

2 Colombia Ecuador Venezuela Guyana Suriname French Guiana EVENTS Venezuela: State of emergency declared in the states of Aragua and Carabobo due to overflowing of Valencia Lake. Peru Bolivia Brazil Paraguay Ecuador: Tungurahua volcano eruption process. Drought in Manabi province. Bolivia: A 6.7 magnitude earthquake in the Richter scale was registered in the Department of Beni. Chile Argentina Uruguay LEGEND Floods Coldwaves Droughts Earthquakes Landslides Volcanic eruption Storms Argentina: Permanent ash fall of Puyehue Cordon Caulle volcano chain followed by drought continues to affect the Patagonia Region. Chile: Hudson volcano, in the Region of Aysén, continues in red alert. Fires Tsunami Epidemics ECHO MAIN ACTIVITIES Venezuela: Monitoring DIPECHO project in Caracas and Miranda CARITAS FRA Ecuador Napo Province SPANISH RED CROSS Chimborazo and Guayas Provinces CARE NL Imbabura and Pichincha Provinces UNDP Paraguay Ñeembucu Department FINNISH RED CROSS Monitoring of DRR DROUGHT project in Presidente Hayes Department COOPI & OXFAM 2/5 Argentina Salta and Jujuy Provinces FINNISH RED CROSS

3 ARGENTINA Peyuhue Cordon Caulle volcano eruption Drought and permanent ash fall have considerably deteriorated the situation in the southern areas of the Patagonia. According to authorities, the eruption of the volcano chain has caused a "multifaceted emergency", especially for the precordillera (pre- Andean range zone) touristic areas and farming zones. Farmers have lost most of their livestock (sheep) and those who survived are at high risk of dying, due to harsh living conditions caused by permanent ash fall. Farmers have lost their livelihoods and are in a critic condition. This situation has been aggravated due to a chronic drought registered in the affected area. Most affected provinces are Neuquén, Río Negro and a sector of Chubut. According to local authorities, it has been 4 years since the drought hit the area and it has accelerated the desertification process; which has caused the deterioration of each productive system, hampering the regional development of the region. Basic infrastructure has also been severely affected by this situation. A SSR project of EUR 200,000 financed by ECHO to FAO has been approved in order to provide humanitarian assistance to 300 affected families for six months in the Patagonian provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén. The core of the intervention is livelihood recovery. ECHO continues closely monitoring the situation in Argentina. ECUADOR Tungurahua Volcano activity Tungurahua volcano considerably increased its activity accompanied by permanent explosions, pyroclastic flows, incandescent rocks, volcanic gravel and ash, affecting the north-western area of the volcano. Steam and ash columns reached 5 km high, while moderate ash fall and volcanic gravel has been registered in the localities of Bilibao, Manzano, Palictahuam Runtún, Pillate, Juive, Cotaló, Cusúa, and Riobamba. The Geophysical institute also informed that the eruptive activity continues and the volcano's seismic activity is very high, accompanied by continuous high roars and expulsion of incandescent material. The volcano activity is moderate/high. Heavy rain fall has caused mudflows in the cliffs of La Pampa, Achupallas and Confesionario, located in the area known as Los Pajaros. The Emergency Operations Committees in Baños and Tungurahua are activated. Emergency plans have also been activated in affected cantons; some of the population has voluntarily evacuated to shelters. Ash fall is severely affecting hundreds of hectares of crops. Orange alert has been issued and the volcano is under strict surveillance. Drought in Manabi Province Lack of rains have resulted in a drought in the province of Manabí, farmers are being severely affected as there is no pastures for feeding their livestock. Most affected areas are: Chone, Guayacá, Convento, Tosagua, Olmedo, 24 de Mayo, Paján, Jipijapa, and Pedernales. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in the province of Manabí there are 27 herds of cattle, from which 90% have been affected by drought. The Ministry of Agriculture has delivered bananas in order to aid affected farmers to feed their cattle. 3/5

4 According to weather forecasts, rains are expected in the second week of December and will intensify during January The Ministry of Agriculture promotes a national programme of sustainable cattle farming in order to mitigate drought effects; however, only farmers have beneficiated and do not reach to the most affected farmers. Farmers are extremely concerned that aid will not be delivered on time and that they will be forced to sell their cattle at very low prices. Feeding the animals is very expensive USD 150 a week, while milk production is selling for USD 180. ECHO is closely monitoring the situation. CHILE Hudson Volcano and Puyehue Cordon Caulle volcano chain eruption process Red alert is still activated in the south of the country due to the eruptive process of Hudson and Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano chain. The country has 15% of the world's most active volcanoes. Hudson volcano has considerably decreased its activity, but magma movements are being registered in the interior of the volcano. It is under strict surveillance. A similar situation has been registered in Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano chain. Permanent ash emissions have been registered since last June has caused chaos in the air traffic in the southern cone, causing flight disruption in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay. ECHO is closely monitoring the situation. Letter of Intent In order to establish the foundation for a closer cooperation in disaster management and disaster management and reduction, on 25 November, a letter of intent was signed by the European Commission and the National Emergency Office of Chile (ONEMI), providing for closer collaboration in improving disaster prevention and preparedness, mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change. Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, and Fernando Schmidt, Deputy Minister of External Relations of Chile, met in Brussels to discuss closer cooperation in disaster management between the EU and Chile. The signing of this letter of intent is another important step in a now strong, cross-continental relationship in the field of disaster risk reduction between the EU and South America. VII DIPECHO ACTION PLAN DIPECHO projects are ongoing in: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Regional Humanitarian response and main issues 4/5

5 Regional rainfall forecast November January 2012 Venezuela: More probabilities of in the country. Colombia: More probabilities of in most of the country; especially in the Caribbean, Pacific and Andean regions. More probabilities of precipitation below normal levels in the region of Orinoquía. Ecuador: More probabilities of in the coastal and Andean regions. Peru: More probabilities of precipitation near normal levels in the coastal and Andean regions. In the Amazon region more probabilities of precipitation below normal levels. Bolivia: More probabilities of in the central and northern areas of eastern plains/ valleys. In the valleys and Andean highlands more probabilities of precipitations below normal levels. Argentina: More probabilities of precipitation below normal level in most the country. In the Patagonian southern coastal region precipitations near and above normal levels. Uruguay: More probabilities of precipitation below normal levels in most of the country. Chile: More probabilities of precipitations above normal levels in the Andean region. In the central and southern regions more probabilities of precipitations below normal levels. In the Austral region more probabilities of precipitation above normal levels. Sources: (CIIFEN), International research centre on el Niño 5/5