Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 11 October 2024

KEY FIGURES

11.7M cases of dengue in the Americas region as of epidemiological week 36

702K internally displaced persons in Haiti as of September 2024

13 named storms so far in the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, with 2 major Hurricanes

HAITI: DISPLACEMENT

Violence and instability continue to drive displacement in Haiti. The 3 October attack in Pont-Sondé, Artibonite, which left at least 100 dead (30 more than previously reported) and 357 injured, displaced 6,742 people. Of these, 78 per cent are seeking refuge with host families, while 22 per cent are in six sites in Saint Marc. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in coordination with local authorities and partners, is distributing essential non-food items, while the World Food Programme (WFP) is providing hot meals. This attack adds to the already dire displacement crisis in Haiti, where over 702,000 people have fled their homes. In the Metropolitan Area of Port-au-Prince, which remains the epicenter of violence, 52 per cent of displaced households have experienced multiple displacements. Host communities are increasingly strained, with 65 per cent facing significant socio-economic challenges due to the influx of internally displaced persons.

COLOMBIA: ARMED VIOLENCE

Armed actions by a non-state armed group (NSAG) in the northeastern department of Norte de Santander are increasing, with reports of combat, attacks, humanitarian access restrictions, and incidents involving antipersonnel mines in municipalities such as San Calixto, Teorama, Hacarí, and Catatumbo. Notably, 13 clashes have occurred in Catatumbo in 2024, 11 of which took place in the last three months. Another NSAG has resurfaced in the municipalities of La Playa and Ocaña, heightening the risk of new clashes between the groups and public forces. There has been a rise in kidnappings and threats — particularly against child protection and human rights leaders — as well as two massacres by unidentified perpetrators in La Playa de Belén and Ábrego. Violence is spreading to other departments, including Antioquia, Bolívar, Caquetá, Huila, and Tolima, placing civilians at increased risk of humanitarian emergencies.

REGIONAL: DENGUE

Dengue cases and deaths continue to soar across Latin America and the Caribbean, with more cases recorded so far in 2024 than historically reported in any previous year. As of epidemiological week 36, the Americas region has reported over 11.7 million cases - more than double the 2023 total. Countries like Brazil, Argentina and Peru are witnessing unprecedented surges, contributing to 97 per cent of the region’s 6,650 dengue-related deaths. All four dengue virus serotypes are circulating across multiple countries, heightening the risk of severe cases. PAHO/WHO urges countries to strengthen surveillance, early diagnosis and vector control measures. Humanitarian impacts are evident, with overstretched healthcare systems, particularly in pediatric care, requiring additional medical resources, personnel, and community engagement to curb the spread.

GULF OF MEXICO: HURRICANE MILTON

Just two weeks after Category 4 Hurricane Helene impacted Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and western Florida, Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a powerful Category 5 storm, marking the strongest hurricane in the Gulf since Hurricane Rita in 2005 and the second Category 5 of the 2024 season after Hurricane Beryl in July. Milton brought localized flooding, storm surges, and infrastructure damage to Mexico, with one reported fatality in the Yucatán Peninsula. Cuba experienced heavy rainfall and winds affecting telecommunications, but no major damage. Local authorities in both countries are managing the response. Following landfall in Florida, Milton is expected to pass near the northern Bahamian islands, where forecasts predict heavy rainfall, rough seas, and mild winds, prompting the activation of local Emergency Operating Centres (EOCs) and shelters. This season is now among the few in history to have multiple Category 5 hurricanes, a rare event observed only six times since 1950.