Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 14 March 2025

KEY FIGURES

260K people affected by severe rains across Peru and Ecuador

77K people face mobility restrictions and confinement in Cauca, Colombia

42K people displaced due to armed violence since 14 February in ZMPAP, Haiti

SOUTH AMERICA: HEAVY RAINFALL

ARGENTINA: On 9 March, the municipality of Bahía Blanca, a port city in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, declared a state of emergency after catastrophic floods left at least 16 people dead and dozens missing. The unprecedented storm brought 400 mm of rain in just a few hours, the equivalent of nearly a year’s worth of precipitation, overwhelming drainage systems and causing widespread destruction across the city. Emergency operations continue, with national authorities allocating 10 billion pesos (USD 9.2 million) for reconstruction.

ECUADOR: Heavy rains continue to worsen conditions across Ecuador, now affecting at least 91,503 people across 23 provinces. The death toll has risen to 18 and more than 25,700 houses have been damaged, including 114 destroyed. The National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR) maintains red alerts in three provinces and continues to coordinate response efforts through the National Emergency Operations Center (COE) and multiple provincial and cantonal COEs. Humanitarian partners are assisting the response through the distribution of aid, as well as technical, psychosocial, assessment and coordination support.

PERU: The impact of heavy rains and flooding in Peru continues to grow, affecting at least 168,428 people between December 2024 and 12 March 2025 according to the latest report from the National Emergency Operations Centre (COEN - INDECI). Across the country, flooding and landslides have now damaged more than 80,000 homes and destroyed at least 3,172. As of 10 March, 962 districts remain under a state of emergency. In response, Start Network has issued an alert note of £258,000 (approximately US$327,000) for WASH, health, and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) sectors to strengthen local response capacity and minimize humanitarian impacts.

HAITI: VIOLENCE & DISPLACEMENT

Armed violence continues to displace thousands in Haiti, with latest data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) revealing that 42,538 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area since 14 February. This marks the largest mass internal displacement within the capital since IOM began tracking in January 2023. Most displaced individuals (67 per cent) have found refuge in 41 sites, including 9 newly created, while others have sought shelter with host families. Many are displaced for the second or third time, further compounding humanitarian needs. A UN expert on human rights has warned that violent criminal groups continue to extend and consolidate their hold beyond the capital, urging the international community to act swiftly to support Haiti in addressing and preventing further human rights abuses.

COLOMBIA: CONFINEMENT

Approximately 77,800 people in Cauca face mobility restrictions and confinement, with indigenous and rural communities at critical risk. More than 20,000 people - the entire population of López de Micay - remain forcibly confined as non-state armed groups (NSAGs) control schools, transportation, and mobility while restricting commerce and medical access. An additional 57,800 people in Cajibío, Páez, Inzá, and Argelia face NSAG-imposed restrictions, including curfews, mandatory ID registration and conduct codes, severely limiting basic services, livelihoods, and humanitarian access. Afro-Colombian, indigenous, and rural populations are disproportionately affected. On 13 March, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) condemned the critical humanitarian situation, calling for all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and ensure safe humanitarian access.