Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (As of 13 November 2023)

MEXICO: HURRICANE OTIS

KEY FIGURES

30 PEOPLE STILL MISSING 2 WEEKS AFTER HURRICANE OTIS

More than two weeks after Category-5 Hurricane Otis devastated Acapulco, on the Pacific coast of Mexico, response efforts, led by the Government, are ongoing. As of 11 November, the state government reports 48 deaths (one more than previously reported on 7 November) and 30 people still missing (10 less than previously reported). In the municipalities of Acapulco de Juárez and Coyuca de Benítez, 551 people are still residing in 10 temporary shelters. Federal and state authorities are providing humanitarian aid under the command of the Mexican Armed Forces and have launched a reconstruction plan for Acapulco in the amount of approximately US$3.5 million, which includes tax exemptions, economic support and the delivery of household appliances and weekly food baskets, among others.

The United Nations System, through the UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT), has offered its existing capacities in the country and has consolidated a UN Support Programme in response to the effects of Hurricane Otis in the state of Guerrero.

This proposal outlines opportunities for cooperation, technical assistance and accompaniment to strengthen a coordinated, comprehensive and differentiated response, under a complementarity, human rights and resilience building approach. Additionally, this proposal emphasizes recovery and reconstruction processes, including strategic partners from civil society, to strengthen the humanitarian-development nexus and identify sustainable solutions in the medium and long term. Humanitarian sector organisations are supporting the government response with coordination and response activities, including, among others, the delivery of food, water and hygiene supplies, educational materials and mobile medical health care. Sector leads report gaps in information and the need for a comprehensive Damage and Needs Assessment.

GUATEMALA: RAINY SEASON

KEY FIGURES

67 PEOPLE DEAD DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL GUATEMALA

More than 4.4 million people across Guatemala have been affected by this year’s rainy season. According to the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), the heavy rainfall and flooding, particularly due to the recent Tropical Storm Pilar and cold fronts, has forced the temporary evacuation of 41,181 people. As of 13 November, CONRED reports 2,108 people are seeking refuge in 12 shelters across the departments of Alta Verapaz (3 shelters), Chimaltenango (1 shelter), Escuintla (1 shelter), Izabal (4 shelters) and Petén (3 shelters). To date, the rainy season has left 67 people dead, 13 missing and 7 injured as well as damaging or destroying some 23,786 homes, 89 schools and 17 bridges. Since the rainy season began in May, at least 1,717 weather-related incidents have been reported. No official requests for international assistance have been received; however, humanitarian partners already operational in Guatemala are on stand-by to support.

Authorities in the most affected departments, Alta Verapaz (approximately 41,000 people affected as of 9 November), Izabal, Huehuetenango, Petén and Quiché, have activated departmental Emergency Operations Centres pre-positioning and delivering aid where needed. The Guatemalan Air Force is assisting in the delivery of resources to communities in Huehuetenango where they do not have land access: Palo Grande and Buena Vista villages, in the municipality of Chiantla; La Crinolina and La Floresta villages, in the municipality of San Pedro Soloma. In the department of Alta Verapaz, humanitarian partners are responding to requests from the governor for support with hygiene kits.

SOUTH AMERICA: EL NIÑO-INDUCED FLOODING

KEY FIGURES

33K EVACUATED IN PARAGUAY AND URUGUAY DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL

El Niño conditions have led to heavy rainfall in the southern regions of South America over the past two weeks, bringing severe flooding to areas in Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. In Uruguay, the overflow of rivers has forced 3,343 people to evacuate (as of 11 November), including 181 in Artigas, 1,972 in Paysandu, 1,077 in Leap and 74 in Tacuarembó. Within the shelters, authorities are distributing teaching materials that were developed in coordination with UNICEF to ensure the continuation of education for affected children and adolescents. Over 13 and 14 November, heavy rainfall is expected to continue, with the Flood Early Warning System indicating that the Cuareim River in Artigas is likely to rise and exceed the established safety level. The Departmental Emergency Committees (CDE) of the five affected departments have been activated and are managing the response at the departmental level.

In Paraguay, intense rainfall led to the overflowing of the Paraná River and flooding of the surrounding regions: Misiones, Itapúa, Ñeembucú, and Alto Paraná. According to media reports, at least 3 people have died and some 30,000 have been displaced. Continued rainfall in forecast for the coming days.

Heavy rainfall also brought flooding and landslides to the southern states of São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, leaving at least 8 people dead and causing widespread power outages. Several people have evacuated and many roads and bridges have been damaged in the most affected municipalities, Quilombo, Jardinópolis and São Domingos. Quilombo declared a state of emergency due to the rains.

El Niño conditions are forecast to persist through the Northern Hemisphere spring, with an 80 percent change of continuing through March - May 2024. For parts of South America, including Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil,
Argentina, Ecuador and Peru, El Niño typically brings above average rainfall, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides.