ANNEX IV-3 EUROPEAN COMMISSION HUMANITARIAN AID OFFICE (ECHO) Monthly report number 2011/8 Month August Country South America (except Colombia for HA) Date of submission 06/08/11 Author ECHO Quito team MONTHLY REPORT 1. SUMMARY / MAIN HIGHLIGHTS (1) Paraguay Floods and hail storms: State of emergency was declared due to the cyclic overflow of Paraguay River. At least 2.500 families have been already evacuated. The decree will ensure the provision of assistance to approximately 7.000 families which could possibly be affected by this situation. A heavy hail storm accompanied by strong winds affected two districts in Itapúa Department affecting at least 1,714 families. Roof tops have been destroyed and crops have been devastated. Hail stones were as large as 8 cm. The National Emergency Secretariat (SEN) has provided roofing material and mattresses. A DREF project of EUR 157,837 financed by ECHO to IFRC is under discussion in order to provide humanitarian assistance to affected families in Itapúa. (2) Snow storms in Chile: The Government of Chile declared "disaster zone" in 8 municipalities of Araucanía due to snow storms and extreme cold weather. At least 18 persons have died. A DREF project of 60,000 EUR financed by ECHO to IFRC has been approved, in order to provide immediate aid to 1,000 families. (3) Bolivia Indigenous protest, SSR project and changes in the Vice Ministry of Civil Defence: A SSR proposal for 200, 000 EUR has been approved to FAO, for providing humanitarian aid to vulnerable llama breeders affected by the cold wave and snow storms in Potosí. Indigenous groups are marching from the Department of Beni to La Paz (500 km) to protest against the construction of a highway that will cross through the heart of the natural reserve, which is one of the last spots of great biodiversity in the planet. A new Vice minister of Civil Defence, Mr. Oscar Cabrera Coca has been appointed, who replaces Mr. Hernán Tuco Ayma, who quitted the position on mid August. (4) Peru Changes in the National Institute of Civil Defence, green earthquake alert and Floods Emergency Decision: On August 24, an earthquake of 7.0 degrees in the Richter scale (depth 145 km) struck the Amazon departments of Ucayali and Loreto. No victims or major damages were reported. An emergency decision of 2 million EUR for a 6 month intervention has been approved for the Department of Ucayali to respond to the floods in that Department. The core of the intervention will be livelihood recovery and house rehabilitation with an important component of DRR mainstreaming. A new Chief of the National Institute of Civil Defence INDECI, General Alfredo Murgueytio Espinoza, has been appointed. New authorities have been appointed in the framework of the changes made by new President Ollanta Humala, who took office on 28 th July. (5) Ecuador shuts down foreign NGO operations: The Ecuadorian government has ordered the shutdown of the operations of 16 NGOs from USA, Italy, Spain, Germany, Britain, Argentina, Colombia and others accompanied by tighter rules on foreign groups operating in the country. The decision was announced after some NGOs failed to convene a 1/5
government deadline to provide reports about their activities. ECHO partners in Ecuador fulfil the requirements of the Ecuadorian government and none of them have been expelled. Venezuela EVENTS Colombia Ecuador Guyana Suriname French Guiana Peru: Impact of floods still high in Ucayali. An earthquake of 7.0 magnitude in the Richter scale struck the Amazon departments of Ucayali and Loreto. Peru Chile Brazil Bolivia Paraguay Argentina Uruguay LEGEND Floods Coldwaves Droughts Earthquakes Landslides Volcanic eruption Storms Fires Tsunami Epidemics Bolivia: Heavy snow storms and extreme weather conditions severely affected the Department of Potosí. Paraguay: Overflowing of Paraguay River in the Department of Alto Paraguay. Heavy hail storm in the Department of Itapúa. Chile: Heavy snow storms severely affected the La Araucanía Region. ECHO MAIN ACTIVITIES Ecuador: Mission of the Head of RSO Managua. Monitoring of Oxfam project in Esmeraldas Peru: Emergency decision of 2 million EUR for a 6 month intervention approved for the Department of Ucayali. Bolivia: Monitoring meeting with Bolivian Red Cross Epidemic/Dengue outbreak project PAHO Peru & Bolivia Project start & field monitoring of SSR project in Potosí Cold wave FAO - 200.000 Paraguay IFRC DREF under negotiation for hailstorms in Itapúa ( 157,837) 2/5 Chile IFRC DREF signed for cold wave in Araucanía ( 60.000)
BOLIVIA Indigenous Protest The TIPNIS indigenous group (Indígenas del Territorio Isiboro y Parque Nacional Isidoro Secure) are marching from the Department of Beni to La Paz (500 km) to protest against the construction of a highway that will cross through the heart of the natural reserve, which is considered of great importance regionally, and one of the last spots with a so high level of biodiversity in the planet. The highway Villa Tunari San Ignacio de Moxos (306 km) will cross through the TIPNIS indigenous territory; it will be an expensive work as it will cost USD 1, 3 million per km. According to a study carried out by the Bolivian Programme for Strategic Research, a considerable part of the highway will cross through the natural reserve, which will imply the loss of 610,000 hectares of forest, equivalent to the 43% of its total forest. According to an indigenous leader, the Tipnis territory will be completely destroyed and at least 64 indigenous communities will be displaced followed by colonization that will completely destroy its natural resources. They also accuse the President of giving a double speech, as he internationally is a fervent defendant of Mother Earth rights and internally is supporting the construction of the highway. Indigenous leaders and other citizens' movements accuse the government of not carrying out an environmental impact study. Also, the construction of the highway was never consulted among the indigenous communities settled in the reserve. On the other hand, the government argues that the highway is a national priority that will reinforce the state presence in the Tipnis, and will enable the protection of biodiversity against illegal wood trafficking. The government has also called to a dialogue but indigenous communities consider it is too late as the construction has already started. The government has also proposed to draw up a law to ban human settlements on the surroundings of the highway. This situation has drifted apart the government from its own political base, which is the indigenous population, who felt that President Evo Morales has failed to keep his promises. ECHO is closely monitoring the situation with its partners in Bolivia. A SSR proposal for 200, 000 EUR has been approved, for providing humanitarian aid to affected population in the Department of Potosí severely affected by heavy snow fall. The project will be implemented by partner FAO starting on 9th of August until end of the year. PERU Green Earthquake alert According to the USGS and the Geophysical Institute of Peru, an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude in the Richter scale struck the Amazon departments of Ucayali and Loreto at 12h50. The epicentre was located southeast of the locality of Contamaná, in the department of Loreto, and the depth of the quake was 145 km. It was strongly felt in Pucallpa, capital city of Ucayali Department. An intensity of V degrees in Mercali Modified scale was registered. An aftershock of 5,3 magnitude was registered The earthquake was also strongly felt in several regions of Peru, especially in Lima city, San Martín, Madre de Dios, Ica, La Libertad, Junín, and Huancayo among others. It was also felt in several areas of Ecuador and Brazil. After the earthquake the telephone service collapsed, but it was restored immediately. 3/5
According to the National Civil Defence Institute (INDECI) latest information, two persons are wounded and 1 house has collapsed in the department of Junín. There is no information regarding damages or affected population in Ucayali or Loreto. According to information provided by our partner COOPI, who is implementing a SRR project in Ucayali, minor damages have been registered in the city of Pucallpa. In several areas of the city walls have collapsed, especially in schools. No victims have been reported. ECHO continues closely monitoring the situation in Ucayali. An emergency decision of 2 million EUR for a 6 month intervention has been approved for the Department of Ucayali. PARAGUAY Heavy hail storm On 8 August 2011, a heavy hail storm accompanied by strong winds affected the districts of Mayor Ocaño and Carlos Antonio López in the Department of Itapúa; at least 1,714 families have been severely affected. The National Emergency Secretariat (SEN) has provided iron corrugated sheets and mattresses. Roof tops have been destroyed and crops have been devastated. Hail stones were as large as 8 cm. The national Emergency operations centre (CNOE) is coordinating with the SEN for a proper response. Local authorities have carried out damage and need assessment. Authorities are supporting evacuations, medical assistance, and distribution of relief items such as construction materials and mattresses. Main needs identified to complement government's response are food rations and hygiene kits for affected families; as well as seeds distribution in order to rehabilitate livelihoods to ensure food security of affected families. ECHO is closely monitoring the situation in Paraguay. A DREF project of EUR 157,837 financed by ECHO to IFRC is under discussion in order to provide humanitarian assistance to affected families in Itapúa. ECUADOR Ecuador shuts down foreign NGO operations The Ecuadorian government has ordered the shutdown of the operations of 16 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) accompanied by tighter rules on foreign groups operating in the country. The decision was announced earlier this month after some NGOs failed to convene a government deadline to provide reports about their activities, including up-to-date information about partner organisations, annual budgets and objectives. On the government blacklist are NGOs from the United States, Italy, Spain, Germany, Britain, Argentina and Colombia among others. The government, under new laws approved in July governing the work of foreign NGOs, is permitted to know about the funding they receive, how it is being spent and how their work fits in with the overall aims of state social programmes, so that awareness about good practices can be raised. The latest move raises questions about the freedom of foreign NGOs working in Ecuador at a time when the government is increasingly critical of foreign NGOs and agencies, in particular the U.S. development agency, USAID. 4/5
This is not the first time the government of Correa has clamped down on NGOs. In 2009, the government attempted to dissolve a leading environmental group, Ecological Action, which had been an outspoken critic of the government s environmental policies and had supported protests by indigenous groups against mining operations. Source: http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/ecuador-shuts-down-foreign-ngo-operations ECHO partners in Ecuador fulfil the requirements of the Ecuadorian government and none have been expelled. 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 Regional rainfall forecast August - October 2011 Venezuela: More probabilities of the west part of the country. In the east part more probabilities of precipitation below normal levels. Colombia: More probabilities of the Caribbean and Andean regions. Ecuador: More probabilities of the highlands. More probabilities of precipitation below normal levels in the coastal region. Peru: More probabilities of precipitation below normal levels in the central Andean highlands. More probabilities of normal precipitation in the coastal region. Bolivia: More probabilities of the northern part of the east plains/ valleys. In the south of the country more probabilities of precipitations below normal levels. Chile: More probabilities of normal precipitations in the central and Austral regions. In the southern region more probabilities of precipitations above normal levels. Argentina: More probabilities of normal precipitation in the east coastal region and the Province of Buenos Aires. In the other regions of the country precipitations below normal levels. Sources: (CIIFEN), International research centre on el Niño 5/5