Asia and the Pacific: La Niña Humanitarian Snapshot (As of 19 November 2024)

OBSERVATIONS AND CURRENT TRENDS

In South Asia, floods have recently impacted several countries. In Sri Lanka, October flooding affected around 134,000 people, damaged 240 houses, and displaced nearly 7,000 residents. Nepal saw record-breaking rainfall in September 2024, marking the highest in 54 years, with damage assessments are still underway. In Bangladesh, flash floods and heavy monsoon rains in August, impacted nearly six million people, with agricultural losses estimated at USD 438 million.

Anticipatory action was implemented twice to mitigate these impacts. In Bangladesh, UN agencies and partners reached four million people with early warnings and allocated $2.6 million for flood response, providing cash, food, hygiene kits, and animal feed.

In Nepal, $6.5 million went to early response efforts, including seed protection, support for gender-based violence issues, maternal health, and cash assistance for WASH and food supplies.

In Southeast Asia, typhoon activity has intensified. Typhoon Yagi, one of only four recorded Category five storms in the East Sea, affected over 20 million people in the Philippines, Viet Nam, Lao PDR, and Myanmar. Since then, three consecutive cyclones—Tranmi, Kong-rey, and Yinxing—impacted nearly nine million people in the Philippines, displacing over 700,000 and causing 160 deaths, 135 injuries, and 21 missing persons.

Typhoon Trami made landfall on 24 October, followed closely by Kong-rey, which hit already affected areas like Batanes. Yinxing, which struck northern Luzon in early November, has prompted further warnings, with PAGASA (State weather bureau) forecasting additional cyclones and emphasizing the need for preparedness.

The recent 2023–24 heatwaves and drought have compacted soil in countries like the Philippines, Cambodia, Viet Nam, and Lao PDR, reducing its rain absorption capacity, increasing runoff, and raising flood risks. Farmers struggling with reduced yields may find it challenging to afford seeds and inputs for the next crop, potentially limiting the benefits of La Niña’s rains.

In response to Typhoon Yagi, Lao PDR’s anticipatory actions included distributing watertight drums and relocating livestock. Similar measures were implemented in Viet Nam’s central region for Typhoon Tarmi, coordinated by the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority