Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 25 October 2024

KEY FIGURES

10K people displaced in Port-au-Prince, Delmas and Tabarre Haiti since 17 October

$258K allocated by the Start Fund to assist drought-affected communities in Peru

478K people affected by Hurricane Oscar in eastern Cuba

HAITI: DISPLACEMENT

Since 17 October, a series of armed attacks in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, Delmas and Tabarre in Haiti have forced the displacement of 10,056 people. Most of these displacements occurred in Port-au-Prince and Delmas, where 8,361 people were forced to flee neighborhoods such as Solino and Cité Numéro 2, while attacks in Tabarre’s neighborhood of Tabarre 27 displaced an additional 1,695 people. In response, 55 per cent of the displaced population, totaling 5,557 individuals, are sheltering in 14 sites, four of which were newly established to accommodate those affected and ten pre-existing sites which have seen a substantial increase in residents. The remaining 45 per cent of displaced people are seeking refuge with host families. This latest wave of displacement underscores the escalating humanitarian crisis in Haiti, prompting the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General to call on the Security Council for increased international support.

REGIONAL: DROUGHT & WATER SCARCITY

Water scarcity continues to affect multiple countries in the region, driven by prolonged drought and below-average rainfall. In Peru, the Start Fund has allocated £200,000 (US$258,660) to address critical drought-related needs in isolated communities. Across the Caribbean, water shortages are impacting daily life and agricultural output, with Trinidad’s main reservoirs experiencing up to 45 per cent reduced capacity. Prolonged dry spells, worsened by climate change, have led to water restrictions in St. Lucia and Barbados and depleted reserves in Grenada and St. Vincent. In Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, Amazon basin rivers dropped to record-low levels in October, disrupting transportation, agriculture, and hydroelectric power. Across the Pantanal region, dry conditions and intense heat drove one of the worst fire seasons in decades.

CUBA: HURRICANE OSCAR

Hurricane Oscar has left a devastating impact in eastern Cuba, affecting an estimated 478,599 people in the municipalities of Imías, Baracoa, Maisí, and San Antonio del Sur in Guantánamo and leaving at least seven dead. The Category 1 hurricane, which stalled over the region for nearly 25 hours, caused extensive flooding, with rainfall reaching record levels of 650 mm in some areas. Thousands remain cut off due to severe infrastructure damage, with destroyed bridges and roads hindering access to isolated communities. Approximately 2,282 homes suffered severe damage, over half of which experienced roof collapses, as well as key public facilities such as pharmacies and food distribution centres. In addition, vital agricultural sectors, including coffee, salt, and vegetables, have sustained massive losses, jeopardizing local livelihoods and food security. Recovery efforts are underway, with the UN System mobilizing resources to address urgent needs in shelter, food security, water, sanitation and healthcare.

COLOMBIA: DISPLACEMENT

Approximately 328 people of the Indigenous community of San Quinini, in the municipality of Bolívar, located in the Valle del Cauca in southwestern Colombia, have been displaced following an attack on a community leader, who was injured in the village of Naranjal. This displacement was triggered by clashes between two non-state armed groups (NSAGs), who have been fighting for territorial control of the Cañón de Garrapatas since August. The clashes have created significant protection risks for local communities. Ethnic communities continue to be disproportionately affected by armed conflict and humanitarian crises, hindering their access to basic goods and services and their fundamental rights.