Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 30 August 2024

KEY FIGURES

5K fires recorded so far this year in Brazil

6K people displaced due to violence in Ganthier, Haiti

1K indigenous people affected by clashes between NSAGs in Bolívar, Colombia

COLOMBIA: ARMED CLASHES

At least 976 people from seven Embera Chami Indigenous communities have been affected by clashes between two non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in the municipality of Bolívar, in the southwestern department of Valle del Cauca. Due to the reported fighting on 21 and 22 August, Indigenous communities have faced hunting and fishing restrictions, threatening their food security. Additionally, there are concerns about school dropout rates increasing and difficulties for children and adolescents in the area to attend classes. Data consolidation on the emergency is ongoing, with the possibility that these communities have also experienced confinement and displacement.

HAITI: DISPLACEMENT & EDUCATION

Recent violence in Ganthier, a commune located in Haiti’s Ouest department near the border with the Dominican Republic, escalated at the end of July and into early August, displacing nearly 6,000 people, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Humanitarian efforts are focused on providing protection, assistance, and cash payments to displaced individuals, including hot meals and four rounds of $100 cash payments for beneficiaries and 1,000 host families. Meanwhile, an Economic and Social Fund (FAES) project is being targeted to support 1,500 households in the municipality.

As Haiti’s new school year approaches on 1 October, coordination between humanitarian actors and authorities is intensifying to address the situation of 30 schools in Port-au-Prince sheltering displaced persons. Through a rent assistance program led by Save the Children, one such school, the National School Republic of Colombia, has been restored to its educational purpose. Insecurity has severely impacted Haiti’s education system in 2024, displacing over 1.1 million students and 4,000 teachers, and forcing the closure of nearly 1,000 schools in the Ouest and Artibonite departments.

SOUTH AMERICA: WILDFIRES

Bolivia, Brazil, and Ecuador are facing some of the most severe wildfires in decades, driven by extreme heatwaves and prolonged drought.

BOLIVIA: In Bolivia, over 31,000 heat points were recorded by late August, particularly in the Santa Cruz and Beni departments. The fires have ravaged almost 2 million hectares, displacing over 8,000 people and affecting around 75,000 more. Indigenous communities have suffered significant losses, including damage to schools, livelihoods, and water systems, threatening their survival and cultural heritage. The UN Humanitarian Country Team in Bolivia has activated contingency plans to support government relief efforts and monitor the evolving situation.

BRAZIL: Brazil is facing one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent history, with nearly 5,000 fires recorded so far this year. In São Paulo State, the fires have claimed at least two lives, placed 48 cities on high alert and destroyed vast tracts of land, endangering local communities. In Urupês, two industrial workers lost their lives while battling the flames. The situation continues to strain resources, highlighting the need for stronger response measures.

ECUADOR: In Ecuador, a wildfire that began on 23 August in the Loja province has devastated 1,174 hectares of grasslands and pine forests. The blaze has seriously threatened local communities, injuring two firefighters, one of whom required hospitalization. In response, the Ecuadorian government deployed specialized brigades and prepared an anti-fire helicopter to contain the fire. The ongoing dry season, marked by a dangerous rainfall deficit, has increased the risk of further fires. Local and national emergency teams, including military personnel, are coordinating efforts through a Unified Command Post to address the crisis.