Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (As of 16 October 2023)

HAITI: INSECURITY & DISPLACEMENT

KEY FIGURES: 200K PEOPLE INTERNALLY DISPLACED IN HAITI

Persistent insecurity and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Haiti is resulting in soaring displacement. As of 30 September, the UN Human Rights Council have recorded 5,599 cases of gang-related violence this year, including 3,156 killings, 1,159 injuries, and 1,284 kidnappings, a significant increase compared to the same period last year. In the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, surges in violence have threatened families and children. A recent rescue mission led by UNICEF successfully evacuated dozens of children from La Saline Salesian School, where they had been trapped for three days amid violent clashes between rival armed groups. The violence has forced tens of thousands to flee their homes in Port-Au-Prince, alone. According to IOM’s Displacement Tracker Matrix (DTM), nearly 200,000 people are now internally displaced in Haiti, of which some 70,000 are in inadequate and precarious spontaneous settlements and collective centres, 31,000 are sleeping in the open air and 34,000 are crammed into classrooms. The Shelter Cluster, co-led by IOM and the Government of Haiti, is distributing essential items, repairing collective centres, providing cash assistance and assisting vulnerable people to move from displacement sites to more adequate shelter. Together, IOM and the Government of Haiti are appealing for US$21 million to ensure better protection and shelter conditions for the displaced populations.

BRAZIL: DROUGHT & FLOODING

KEY FIGURES: 12K PEOPLE DISPLACED DUE TO FLOODING IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Heavy rainfall and flooding have been affecting southern Brazil since 3 October. At least 139 municipalities have reported flooding and landslides in the southern state of Santa Catarina, with 111 declaring a state of emergency. The State Civil Defence reports two fatalities, one in Rio do Oeste and another in Palmeira, and 12,289 people displaced, mostly in Rio do Sul, Tubarão, Blumenau and Lontras. Authorities have been distributing humanitarian relief, including drinking water, food, mattresses and hygiene kits. Further heavy rain is forecast for the coming days.

On the other side of the country, rainfall is severely lacking. Between July and September, some areas of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest have seen the lowest recorded rainfall since 1980. According to the Amazonas State Civil Defence, the drought is affecting more than 480,000 people and has isolated entire communities. The Negro River has hit its lowest level since records began in 1902, according to Manaus port authorities.

Both the drought and rainfall across Brazil are largely influenced by El Niño conditions, which have been present in the region since June. Forecasts predict that these conditions will persist until March 2024, increasing the risk of further drought and flood-related impacts across the country.

ARGENTINA: WILDFIRES

KEY FIGURES: 800 PEOPLE EVACUATED DUE TO WILDFIRES ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ARGENTINA

Since 10 October, wildfires have been burning across central and northern Argentina, causing damage and forcing evacuations. According to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADS), seven active wildfires were detected as of 12 October, with two each in the provinces of Catamarca and Jujuy Provinces, and one each in the Provinces of Córdoba, Tucumán and San Luis. In Córdoba, the most affected province, at least 800 people have been evacuated according to media reports. The provincial government has deployed a total of 960 firefighters, 8 firefighting planes and 2 helicopters to combat the fires. Damage assessments have not yet been completed. The wildfires come amid months of extreme heat and heatwaves across the region, which scientists have attributed to humancaused climate change. At the beginning of August, Argentina recorded the highest winter temperatures in 117 years of data, with temperatures well above 30 degrees Celsius. The heatwaves have been persistent all year, with multiple summer heatwaves hitting the country earlier in 2023. Throughout March, many regions saw their highest temperatures recorded in the last 63 years for the month. With climate change and El Niño conditions, authorities are bracing themselves for further heatwaves and increased risk of wildfires at least through to the end of the year.