Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 22 November 2024

KEY FIGURES

41K people displaced since 11 November as attacks intensify in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

430K people affected by Tropical Storm Sara across Central America

12K hectares affected by wildfires in Ecuador since 9 November

HAITI: VIOLENCE & DISPLACEMENT

Since 11 November, armed violence in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area has displaced nearly 41,000 people —the largest mass displacement recorded by IOM since tracking began in January 2023, with over 20,000 displaced in just four days. Some 90 per cent of the displaced are sheltering in 23 sites, including 19 newly established locations. A Multisectoral Needs Assessment in the metropolitan area, covering January-October 2024, underscores that violence and insecurity has severely restricted populations access to essential services and markets. The municipality of Cité Soleil in particular faces critical multisectoral humanitarian needs, with severely inadequate housing, education, health and sanitation infrastructure. Despite access challenges, humanitarian partners are committed to delivering life-saving assistance. However, the Humanitarian Response remains critically underfunded, with only 42 per cent of the US$674 million appeal met.

ECUADOR: DROUGHT & WILDFIRES

The Ecuadorian government has declared a 60-day state of emergency as it battles devastating wildfires and water deficits amid its worst drought in six decades. Since 9 November, 22 forest fires have burned through more than 12,000 hectares of land, primarily in Azuay and Loja provinces, with additional impacts in Bolívar, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, and Esmeraldas. As of 22 November, six fires have been brought under control, while 16 remain active. The ongoing 120-day drought has severely strained water resources, disrupted hydroelectric power—which supplies over 70 per cent of Ecuador’s energy—and exacerbated wildfire risks. The UN system in Ecuador, supported by OCHA, is assisting government efforts by delivering critical supplies and support. Driven by the El Niño phenomenon and climate change, the situation highlights broader environmental crises in South America, where record wildfires and plummeting Amazon River levels have intensified regional challenges.

CENTRAL AMERICA: TROPICAL STORM SARA

Tropical Storm Sara has caused widespread devastation across Central America, with flooding, landslides, and river overflows reported in El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, and Guatemala. In El Salvador, 9 rivers overflowed, flooding 91 homes and forcing 800 people into shelters, while Honduras reported 247,010 affected, 6 fatalities, and extensive damage to 5,020 homes. Belize experienced localized flooding, prompting sheltering efforts and WASH interventions, though no casualties were reported. In Guatemala, Sara prompted red and orange alerts, with more than 180,000 people affected and significant housing and infrastructure damage. Governments and humanitarian partners are actively responding to address urgent needs and mitigate further risks as rains persist.

REGIONAL: FLOODING

COLOMBIA: Flooding in Montecristo, Bolívar, has affected over 9,600 people after the La Guinea, San Mateo, and Montecristo streams overflowed. The floods inundated the municipal capital and six nearby villages, destroying 1,115 hectares of crops, causing livestock losses, and severely damaging roads, sports facilities, and public infrastructure. Damage to the road connecting the communities of El Dorado and Canónico has isolated approximately 572 people, further exacerbating humanitarian needs.

CARIBBEAN: Heavy rains continue to cause flooding across the Caribbean. While flood watches were lifted on 18 November in Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada remains under flood and landslide warnings with reported landslides, infrastructure damage and one fatality. Damages are compounding previous impacts from Hurricane Beryl, with damages to the country’s water systems estimated to be 60 per cent worse than those caused by the hurricane. Recovery efforts are ongoing but hindered by continued rainfall and flooding.