Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 21 October 2024

KEY FIGURES

51K hot meals delivered by WFP to 7,036 displaced people in Haiti

8K people facing mobility and access restrictions in Cauca, Colombia

15 named storms so far in the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season

HAITI: ARMED VIOLENCE

The situation in Pont Sondé, Bas Artibonite, remains tense following the 3 October attack by an armed group, which resulted in more than 100 deaths and displaced 6,742 people. Armed group members have damaged road infrastructure, blocking access from Route Nationale 1 (RNA1) to Savien. On 14 October, students from Antoinette Dessalines National School organized a peaceful march to urge authorities to address the needs of displaced people who have occupied their school. UNICEF has pre-positioned recreational kits for 1,350 children, while the World Food Programme provided over 51,000 hot meals to 7,036 displaced individuals between 6 and 13 October. Concurrently, on 17 October, armed groups launched coordinated attacks in several neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, burning houses and looting shops. Attacks have continued in the neighbourhood of Solino since 18 October, resulting in at least one woman’s death and further displacements.

COLOMBIA: ARMED VIOLENCE

Military operations in El Plateado, Cauca, have trapped civilians amid armed conflict, with reports indicating approximately 1,800 people forcibly displaced and 8,000 facing mobility and access restrictions. Since 12 October, the armed forces have launched “Operation Perseo” to confront non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in El Plateado, deploying special military units. An explosion attributed to a NSAG injured around 17 civilians in the village centre. The Ombudsman’s Office condemned the attack, stressing the importance of adhering to International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The NSAG has warned civilians it will not distinguish between targets, putting them at risk of stigmatization and coercion to pressure military forces to withdraw, particularly affecting grassroots organizations. Fears of renewed combat are threatening the socio-economic activities of the community and the education of at least 3,700 students.

THE CARIBBEAN: ATLANTIC HURRICANES

After rapidly intensifying into a Category 1 hurricane overnight on 19 October, Hurricane Oscar passed over Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas before making landfall in eastern Cuba on 20 October, with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h. Oscar, the 15th named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane season, is expected to continue inland over eastern Cuba on 21 October before heading towards central Bahamas on 22-23 October, bringing heavy rainfall, flash floods, strong winds and storm surges. Rainfall and thunderstorms are likely to persist across Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas until 22 October. Tropical Storm warnings are in place for these areas, while the Caribbean Development Partners Group - Disaster Management (CDPG-DM) continues to monitor and organize preparedness activities for potential impacts. In Cuba, Oscar comes amid a nationwide blackout that has plunged nearly 10 million people into darkness due to a failure at a thermoelectric plant on 18 October. As of 21 October, continued blackouts are still affecting most of the country. The government has prioritized life-saving services, suspending schools and nonessential activities over the weekend.
Simultaneously, Tropical Storm Nadine, the 14th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, strengthened on 19 October, making landfall near Belize City, Belize around midday. Despite bringing heavy rains to parts of the Yucatán Peninsula in both Belize and Mexico, no significant damage has been reported. By 21 October, the remnants of Nadine dissipated, having posed no significant threat or damage. This marks an unusual period of intense activity for the Atlantic hurricane season, which has seen both Nadine and Oscar develop rapidly in quick succession. The Atlantic has now seen 15 named storms, 10 hurricanes and four major hurricanes in 2024, slightly above the season average of 14.4 named storms, 7.2 hurricanes and 3.2 major hurricanes with more than a month left in the season.