ECHO Quito team MONTHLY REPORT

Transcription

1 EUROPEAN COMMISSION HUMANITARIAN AID OFFICE (ECHO) Monthly report number 2012/12 Month December Country South America (except Colombia for HA) Date of submission 09/01/13 Author ECHO Quito team 1. SUMMARY / MAIN HIGHLIGHTS MONTHLY REPORT (1) Argentina Prolonged drought and ash effects: A prolonged drought and Puyehue volcano ash effects have caused a severe impact in several municipalities of the Patagonian province of Chubut. In the municipality of Mártires in the communities of Las Plumas and El Mirasol, due to the prolonged drought and the impact of the Puyehue Volcano ash fall (last year) resulting in the dead of sheep, a third of its population has left the region. (2) Bolivia Heavy rains and floods: Since early December, heavy rains, floods, rivers overflowing, landslides and hailstorms have caused damages in different regions of the country. Most affected departments are La Paz, Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca, Tarija, Potosí, and Beni; where at least 1,362 families have been affected (3) Chile Copahue Volcano activity: On 22 December Copahue volcano located in the region of Bío Bío in the border with Argentina, registered a considerable increase in its activity. A gas and ash column of 1, 5 km was registered as well as incandescent blocks were ejected. Authorities declared red alert to the municipality of Alto Bío Bío, which located near the volcano. In the province of Neuquén (Argentina), the locality of Caviahue orange alert is still activated (4) Ecuador Tungurahua Volcanic activity: On 16 December, Tungurahua volcano considerably increased its activity. Gas, steam and ash explosions and high roars were registered; the highest plume reached 4 km altitude above the crater. 17 communities are affected, mainly on the agricultural sector. (5) Peru Heavy rains and huaycos (landslides): Since early December heavy rains and landslides (huaycos) have affected the central selva region, mainly the departments of San Martín, Huancavelica, Junín and the Valley of rivers Apurímac Ene Mantaro (Vraem). Road infrastructure is the most affected. * An epidemics project proposal for 227,135 EUR for providing health assistance to affected population by a dengue outbreak in the Department of Ucayali presented by PAHO is under approval process. (6) DIPECHO and Drought Management - New HIP for DIPECHO Action Plan was launched on 15 November deadline for proposals submission is 21 st January. New HIP for building resilience in drought-affected communities in Central and South America was launched on 14 November deadline for proposals submission is 2 nd February. (7) New Technical Assistant: On 19 November new TA Jorge Pablo Torrealba joined the ECHO Quito field office. (8) Nobel price funds will be used to support children affected by Colombian conflict in Ecuador and Colombia through a UNHCR project. 1/6

2 EVENTS Colombia Ecuador Venezuela Guyana Suriname French Guiana Ecuador: Tungurahua Volcano has considerably increased its activity initiating a new eruptive episode. Peru: Floods and huaycos have caused damages in Huancavelica, Junín, San Martín and the Valley of rivers Apurímac Ene Mantaro (Vraem). Peru Bolivia Brazil Bolivia: heavy rains, floods, rivers overflowing, landslides and hailstorms have caused damages in different regions of the country. Chile Argentina Paraguay Uruguay LEGEND Floods Coldwaves Droughts Earthquakes Chile: Copahue volcano located in the region of Bío Bío in the border with Argentina, registered a considerable increase in its activity. Argentina: A prolonged drought and Puyehue volcano ash effects have caused a severe impact in several municipalities of the Patagonian province of Chubut. Landslides Volcanic eruption Storms Fires Tsunami Epidemics Venezuela Colombia Ecuador Guyana Suriname French Guiana ECHO MAIN ACTIVITIES Ecuador Monitoring visit SSR Emergency project in Sucumbíos. Peru Bolivia Brazil Bolivia Monitoring DIPECHO Project in: Cochabamba. Paraguay * ECHO LAC Meeting in Dominican Republic Chile Argentina Uruguay Response operation Response operation monitored DP operation DP operation monitored 2/6

3 ARGENTINA Drought and ash effects in the province of Chubut A prolonged drought and Puyehue volcano ash effects have caused a severe impact in several municipalities of the Patagonian province of Chubut. In the municipality of Mártires in the communities of Las Plumas and El Mirasol, due to the prolonged drought and the impact of the Puyehue Volcano ash (last year) fall resulting in the dead of sheep, a third of its population has left the region. The population of 650 inhabitants struggles to survive as their economy deteriorates in a daily basis. Families and youngsters have fled because of unemployment, lack of rains and ashes that ruined their economy. This is the only spot in Argentina that has rapidly loss its population in the last ten years. According to the last census, 20.4% of the population in the Municipality of Mártires has fled to the cities. Most of the remaining population is elderly. Sheep breeding and wool production was the main source of income of farmers in this region. Almost the totality of the animals has died and farmers have lost their only source of income; plagues such as pumas and wild pigs have also affected sheep breeding as they eat the sheep. The agricultural sector is completely devastated. Public premises give life to the municipality, the municipal office, the police station and a school. Also, there are four bars, three shops, three mechanics, three clothing shops, an ice cream shop, a hotel, a bakery and a bus station. But such small businesses have felt the impact of the crisis as there is barely consumption. Nothing to report. BOLIVIA Heavy rains Since early December, heavy rains, floods, rivers overflowing, landslides and hailstorms have caused damages in different regions of the country. Most affected departments are La Paz, Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca, Tarija, Potosí, and Beni; where at least 1,362 families have been affected and 8 persons have died. At least 100 houses have been severely damaged and hundreds of several hectares of crops completely destroyed. Assessments to quantify losses and identify needs are being undertaken. The National Contingency Plan has been activated and resources have been allocated for providing humanitarian assistance and post disaster recovery. A total of 19.5 million of Bolivianos (2.1 m EUR) have been allocated so far. The contingency plan establishes recommendations for prevention and preparedness to municipalities regarding organization and assistance to affected population. According to weather forecasts, rains and electric storms are expected in the next days in the Altiplano, the Chaco region and the Amazon region. Six municipalities in the department of La Paz have been affected by rain, hail, overflowing of streams and flooding. Only in this department approximately 320 families are affected, and 70 hectares of crops have been damaged. Authorities issued a departmental yellow alert to purchase and distribute food and water to affected zones and rehabilitate crops. 3/6

4 ECHO is closely following the situation with its partners. CHILE Copahue Volcano eruption process On 22 December Copahue volcano located in the region of Bío Bío in the border with Argentina, registered a considerable increase in its activity. A gas and ash column of 1, 5 km was registered as well as incandescent blocks were ejected. Authorities declared red alert to the municipality of Alto Bío Bío, which located near the volcano. Also, authorities activated the evacuation plan in case the situation deteriorates. At least four villages are near the volcano are threatened. On 24 December seismicity and the volcano activity decreased. The situation is under control and the volcano is under strict surveillance. Even though the activity of the volcano has decreased, in the province of Neuquén (Argentina), specifically in the locality of Caviahue the orange alert is still activated. A prevention operation is ready in case a deterioration of the situation. ECHO is closely monitoring the situation. ECUADOR Tungurahua Volcano eruption process On 16 December, Tungurahua volcano considerably increased its activity. Several gas, steam and ash explosions and high roars were registered; the highest plume reached 4 km altitude above the crater. Small pyroclastic flows and incandescent blocks were registered in the flanks of the volcano and heavy ash fall was affected the volcano surrounding areas. Affected communities by ash fall are Rio Verde, Juive, Baños, El Manzano, Runtún, Pondoa, Choglontus, Cahuaji, Palitahua, El Altar, Puela, La Matriz, El Rosario, Santa Fe de Galán, San José de Chazo, Guanando, and Ilapo. The agricultural sector is the most affected. The Risk Management Secretariat declared orange alert the provinces of Tungurahua and Cotopaxi. In the city of Baños (Tungurahua), as prevention measure schools activities were suspended and contingency plans have been activated. The volcano activity is high and it is under strict surveillance; however, according to forecasts there is the possibility that the volcano continue to produce explosions with moderate ash fall and the generation of pyroclastic flows that might reach populated areas. Nothing to report 4/6

5 PERU Heavy rains and landslides Since early December heavy rains and landslides (huaycos) have affected the central selva region, mainly the departments of San Martín, Huancavelica, Junín and the Valley of rivers Apurímac Ene Mantaro (Vraem). Road infrastructure is the most affected. At least 1,570 persons have been affected in Junín and San Martín. The departments of Moquegua and Madre de Dios have also been affected. In Huancavelica a hill landslide blocked a stretch of the main road Lachocc Pisco. In Junín, in the district of Chanchamayo at least 75 families have been severely affected and roads damaged due to overflowing of Tarma River. In San Martín, also landslide blocked a strecht of the main road Fernando Belaunde Terry. In the district of Moyobamba overflowing of Tonchima river has caused damages to several houses and some areas are isolated. The same situation has been registered in the Vraem where several communities are isolated due to overflowing of river Pulkay. In Cusco, several landslides blocked the main road Cusco Quillabamaba. The rainy season continues to cause emergency situations, affecting telecommunications, crops and dwellings. Regional and local authorities are responding to the emergencies. ECHO is closely monitoring the situation. An epidemics project proposal for 227,135 EUR for providing health assistance to affected population by a dengue outbreak in the Department of Ucayali presented by PAHO is under approval process. REGIONAL EMERGENCY HIP 2012 Regional Humanitarian Implementation plan (HIP) of 5 million with 12 months duration to assist people affected by severe flooding in South America, particularly in Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil. Projects ongoing: Ecuador: COOPI, AVCF, Spanish Red Cross and Plan International ( ). Peru: CESVI, German Red Cross, Spanish Red Cross, WHH, and COOPI ( ). Bolivia: FAO and COOPI ( ). Paraguay: COOPI and Spanish Red Cross ( ) DIPECHO ACTION PLAN DIPECHO projects are in its final phase of implementation: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. New HIP for DIPECHO has been launched in 15 November it is expected to receive projects proposals by late January. New HIP for building resilience in drought-affected communities in Central and South America was launched on 14 November 2012; it is expected to receive project proposals by mid February. 5/6

6 Regional Humanitarian response and main issues Regional rainfall forecast Dec February 2013 Venezuela: More probabilities of precipitation above normal levels in the northern regions of the country. In the other regions near normal levels. Colombia: More probabilities of precipitation above normal levels in most of the country. Ecuador: More probabilities of precipitation above normal level in the central highlands the selva region. In the highlands precipitations near normal levels and in the coastal region below normal levels. Peru: More probabilities of precipitation above normal levels in the highlands region, in the other regions precipitations near normal levels. Argentina: More probabilities of precipitation above normal levels in the region of Cuyo, Buenos Aires province and Patagonian coast. In central and coastal regions precipitations below normal levels. Uruguay: More probabilities of precipitation near normal levels in most of the country. Paraguay: More probabilities of precipitations near normal levels in most of the country. In the southeast of the eastern region precipitation below normal levels. Bolivia: More probabilities of precipitation below normal levels in the altiplano and valleys. More probabilities of rains above normal levels in the eastern plains. Chile: More probabilities of precipitations below normal levels in the northern altiplano, near normal levels in the central and southern regions, and above normal levels in the austral region. Sources: (CIIFEN), International research centre on el Niño 6/6