This Review analyzes some of the major events and trends related to natural disasters and humanitarian disaster response in 2011.

2011 was the most expensive year in terms of disaster losses in history, mostly because of a spate of disasters affecting developed countries. Globally, the ecnonomic cost of disasters in 2011 was $380 billion, of which $210 billion were the result of the earthquake and tsunmai in Japan. This was 72 percent higher than the losses in 2005, the second costliest year in history of disaster-related losses.

PANORAMA GENERAL

Cifras preliminares para 2011 muestran una disminución en la ocurrencia de desastres naturales y su impacto en América, en comparación a la última década, sin embargo, América sufrió graves desastres en 2011.

This report covers the period 01 January 2011 to 30 June 2011.

In brief

Programme outcome: the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies‘ secretariat (IFRC) is committed to supporting the National Societies to do more, do better and reach further in order to address the humanitarian challenges faced by the Red Cross Societies in the Americas. The support provided by the IFRC‘s Americas zone office focuses on mainstreaming compliance with the Inter-American Plan and working towards full alignment with the IFRC‘s Strategy 2020.

PANORAMA GENERAL

Existe evidencia científica que confirma que el cambio climático ha incrementado la intensidad de las tormentas tropicales y sus efectos sobre la elevación de la temperatura atmosférica y de la superficie del mar. Si este comportamiento continúa agudizándose, en las próximas décadas, los países de la región - particularmente América Central, la Región Andina y el Caribe, estarán expuestas a precipitaciones más fuertes y sequías más severas.

Curitiba – The good news is that the rain will be less this week and river levels began to drop over the weekend. The bad news is that four days of almost nonstop rain last week caused deaths and significant damage in the state of Santa Catarina.

01 Aug 2011 - Rains caused floods and landslides in Paraíba, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Sul provinces. About 78,000 people affected and 15 dead.

Link: REDLAC Weekly Note on Emergencies Latin America and Caribbean, Year 4 - Volume 219

HIGHLIGHTS:

• DOMINICA: The government declared an ecological disaster for the collapse of the Matthieu dam.

• BRAZIL: More than 51,000 people affected by rains in the state of Rio Grande do Sul

• COLOMBIA: IOM and Colombian authorities plan to vaccinate 220,000 people affected by flooding.

• ECUADOR: Disaster area in Sucumbios after landslide, UNHCR delivering humanitarian aid.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• CHILE: 25,000 people affected by snowfall. Declaration of emergencies for communities and for the agricultural sector.

• BRASIL: 13,300 people affected by rains in Pernambuco and Paraíba.

• GUATEMALA: Rains in Baja Verapaz have affected 1,600 people.

SILVER SPRING, Md. - Several days of heavy rains in the Northern state of Roraima, Brazil has led to severe flooding causing the Brazilian Civil Defense to declare a state of emergency in seven cities. More than 355,000 people have been affected by the flood, which has displaced tens of thousands of people. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is responding to the humanitarian needs of flood victims, providing them with much needed food rations.