Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 26 August 2024

KEY FIGURES

2M hectares have been burned by wildfires in Bolivia

$674M needed in Haiti to reach the needs of 3.6 million people

15K people received WFP food kits during the humanitarian corridor in Chocó, Colombia

HAITI: HUMANITARIAN FUNDING

On World Humanitarian Day, OCHA is renewing calls for urgent humanitarian funding and resources in Haiti, where the humanitarian situation has rapidly deteriorated due to escalating violence. Since March, the surge in coordinated attacks by armed groups has plunged even more people into extreme vulnerability, not only in neighbourhoods and localities directly affected by these attacks, but also in areas far from the capital that have become host to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs). Nearly 600,000 people have been displaced by violence since March this year, three times more than the same period a year ago; 24 per cent of hospitals are functioning normally and half of the Haitian population is food insecure. OCHA emphasizes the need to secure the full $674 million outlined in the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan, as current funding meets only 33 per cent of needs. Without additional resources and collaborative efforts from the government and partners, the 3.6 million targeted by the plan will face severely diminished chances of survival.

MEXICO: FLOODING

Heavy rainfall and flooding, which started more than two weeks ago, are affecting at least 3,600 people across 13 communities in the Chalco municipality, next to Mexico City in the central State of Mexico. The blockage of the main drainage systems by trash is impeding the recession of water levels, exacerbating the emergency. Local authorities in coordination with the Federal Civil Protection, Red Cross Society and Mexican military are responding to assist the affected population. There are growing concerns of the increase of water-borne diseases and social tensions, as the local population is regularly blocking the main road that connects Mexico City to the State of Morelos in an effort to request more assistance from the government.

BOLIVIA: WILDFIRES

Bolivia’s central department of Santa Cruz is facing a severe environmental crisis, with more than 27 wildfires raging, primarily in the Chiquitania region. The fires, driven by extreme drought and strong winds, have ravaged 26 of the department’s 56 municipalities and burned nearly 2 million hectares, surpassing the devastation of the 2019 wildfires. Despite deploying over 7,200 personnel and limited resources, including a Z-9 Army helicopter and a Bolivian Air Force Cessna, the fires continue to spread rapidly. The situation is critical, particularly in municipalities such as San Ignacio de Velasco, San Matías, Santa Ana and Concepción, where conditions remain conducive to further spread of the fires. The fires have significantly deteriorated air quality, severely impacting vulnerable populations such as children, elderly and those with respiratory conditions, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced firefighting efforts.

COLOMBIA: HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR

Following the armed strike declared by a Non-State Armed Group (NSAG) in Chocó on 11 August, a humanitarian corridor was opened from 17 to 21 August, thanks to local mediation. Municipal administrations and the Public Ministry from the municipalities of Sipí, Medio San Juan, Istmina, Nóvita and Litoral del San Juan conducted verification missions to assess humanitarian needs and provide assistance in protection, food security and health. The Local Coordination Team (LCT) in Chocó coordinated the response, with WFP distributing food kits to over 15,000 people, PAHO/WHO providing technical support and medical supplies, and UNHCR aiding the Public Ministry in gathering declarations (of victims as defined in Law 1448) and strengthening institutional capacity. Although the NSAG officially ended the strike on 19 August, the civilian population continues to face limitations in accessing essential goods and services.