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EUROPEAN COMMISSION HUMANITARIAN AID OFFICE (ECHO)

Monthly report number 2011/2

Month February 2011

Country South America (except Colombia for HA)

Date of submission 09/03/11

Author ECHO Quito

MONTHLY REPORT

1. SUMMARY / MAIN HIGHLIGHTS (1) Bolivia: Heavy rains, floods, landslides, and dengue fever outbreak – At least 12 697 families

have been severely affected by heavy rains, floods and landslides in the departments of La Paz, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Potosí, Oruro, and Santa Cruz. The government declared national emergency and allocated 20 million dollars for humanitarian aid and reparation of damages. In Santa Cruz at least 400 cases of dengue fever have been confirmed and at least another 1 600 of suspect cases are being analyzed; two persons have died due to dengue fever.

(2) Heavy rains and floods in Ecuador – Since January at least 8 000 persons have been affected by heavy

rains, floods and landslides in 14 provinces of the country; from which 715 have been evacuated to temporary shelters, 597 are being fostered by family and friends, and total of 14 persons have died.

(3) Heavy rains, floods and dengue fever in Peru- Heavy rains have caused rivers overflowing in the

departments of Arequipa, Ayacucho, Apurimac, Cusco, Ica, Puno, Ucayali, Huancavelica, and Amazonas are causing damages and destroying houses and crops. Humanitarian aid is being provided to affected population. A dengue outbreak is also affecting the eastern part of the country. ECHO is in contact with PAHO and IFRC for a potential intervention against the dengue outbreak in Bolivia and Peru under the Epidemics Funding Decision.

(4) DIPECHO VII Action Plan for South America – A total of 22 project proposals have been pre selected,

observations and recommendations have been sent to potential partners.

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Response operation

Response operation monitored

DP operation

DP operation monitored

Venezuela

Uruguay

Suriname

Peru

Guyana

French Guiana

Ecuador

Colombia

Chile

BrazilBolivia

Argentina

Paraguay

Venezuela

Uruguay

Suriname

Peru

Guyana

French Guiana

Ecuador

Colombia

Chile

Brazil

Argentina

Earthquakes

Coldwaves

Floods

Droughts

Landslides

Volcanic eruptions

LEGEND

StormsFires

Venezuela

Uruguay

Suriname

Peru

Guyana

French Guiana

Ecuador

Colombia

Chile

Brazil

Bolivia

Argentina

Paraguay

EVENTS

• Ecuador: Heavy rains and floods are affecting to more than 8 000 people in the provinces of: Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Guayas, Los Ríos, Santo Domingo and Esmeraldas.

• Peru: Heavy rains and floods in

the departments of Arequipa, Ayacucho, Apurimac, Cusco, Ica, Puno, Ucayali, Huancavelica, and Amazonas are causing damages and destroying houses and crops.

• Bolivia: Heavy rains, floods, landslides have affected to at least 12 697 families in the departments of La Paz, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Potosí, Oruro, and Santa Cruz.

In Santa Cruz at least 400 cases of dengue fever have been confirmed and 1 600 of suspect cases are being analyzed

ECHO MAIN ACTIVITIES

• Peru: Monitoring of Capacity Building Project UNISDR. ECHO DP project UNDP Lima & Callao, End-project event Monitoring mission (TA) Emergency Decision projects (Floods) Cuzco & Puno

• Bolivia:

Monitoring mission (TA) 1. Emergency Decision projects (Drought) - Santa Cruz 2. SSR Decision (Landslides) - La Paz

• Chile: Monitoring mission B.Miguelez (TA) SSR Decision (Earthquake)

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BOLIVIA

1. EVOLUTION OF THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Heavy rains, floods, landslides, and dengue fever outbreak

• According to government officials at least 12 697 families have been severely affected by heavy rains, floods and landslides in the departments of La Paz, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Potosí, Oruro, and Santa Cruz.

• The government declared national emergency due to the magnitude of disasters caused by heavy rains, rivers overflowing and floods; and has allocated 20 million dollars for humanitarian aid and reparation of damages.

• La Paz city, was harshly affected by a massive landslide, where 3 200 families have lost their homes and 250 homes completely destroyed in the neighbourhoods of Kupini II, Kupini, Valle de las Flores, Santa Rosa de Callapa and Callapa.

• In Chuquisaca at least 10 000 families (215 communities) have been affected by heavy rains and floods, where 35 persons have died. While, in Cochabamba heavy rains and floods have caused severe damages; while in Potosí heavy rains have caused overflowing of San Sebastián Lake causing damages in several communities.

• According to weather forecasts, heavy rains will continue during the first weeks of March especially in the Altiplano region; since mid March it is expected a humid and dry transition period.

• Meanwhile, in Santa Cruz at least 400 cases of dengue fever have been confirmed and at least another 1 000 are being analyzed; two persons have died due to dengue fever. Dengue fever outbreak is considered by health officials as moderate/ seriously deathly.

Also in Chuquisaca, health authorities have declared the municipalities of Huacareta and Monteagudo in Hernando de Siles province and Muyupampa in Luis Calvo province as dengue endemic areas; several cases of dengue fever have been confirmed.

2. HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE AND MAIN ISSUES

ECHO Quito field office has been closely monitoring the situation with its partners in Bolivia. A SSR project of 200, 000 EUR was approved on December 2010 in order to provide of humanitarian aid to imminent landslides that might affect largely to population in the municipality of La Paz.

BRAZIL • DG ECHO has allocated 200.000 EUR from the Small Scale Response Funding Decision to support the victims of

the floods in Rio de Janeiro. The operation is being implemented by Save the Children and Care.

ECHO Quito field office continues monitoring the situation with its partners in Brazil. CHILE

1. EVOLUTION OF THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Seismic activity

• On 27 February, a strong quake of 6.0 magnitude struck on Sunday 37 km south of Concepcion, at a depth of 16.7 km, in the same area affected by a massive, 8.8-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami last year.

Chile's state emergency office Onemi said there were no reports of damages or injuries and no risk of a tsunami. Partial power cuts were registered in the area.

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• 11 February a 6, 9 magnitude earthquake in the Richter scale was registered in the central and southern regions of the country, and more than 40 aftershocks have hit the area since last Friday.

A 6, 2 magnitude aftershock was registered in Cobquecura (Bio Bio Region) and it was felt in Valparaíso and Los Ríos region. Bio Bio region electricity service was interrupted in several areas.

Another 5, 1 magnitude aftershock was also registered 94 km from Constitución, Maule Region. Continuous aftershocks have hit the area. According to Onemi, aftershocks are normal and seismic activity will decrease in the following days. No victims or damages have been reported.

ECUADOR

1. EVOLUTION OF THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Heavy rains and floods

• According to the National Risk Management Secretariat, since January at least 8 000 persons have been affected by heavy rains, floods and landslides in 14 provinces of the country; from which 715 have been evacuated to temporary shelters, 597 are being fostered by family and friends, and total of 14 persons have died.

• At least 1 002 persons have been left homeless and have completely lost their crops, which are their main

source of income. • Most affected provinces are Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Guayas, Los Ríos, Santo Domingo and

Esmeraldas. • Roads have been interrupted, several areas are isolated, houses have also been affected and crops severely

damaged. • National officials are providing humanitarian aid and the situation is under control. PERU

1. EVOLUTION OF THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Heavy rains and floods

• According to the National Civil Defence Institute, heavy rains have caused rivers overflowing in the departments of Arequipa, Ayacucho, Apurimac, Cusco, Ica, Puno, Ucayali, and Huancavelica causing damages and destroying houses and crops. Humanitarian aid is being provided to affected population.

• In Ayacucho, heavy rains caused overflowing of Alameda, Huatatas, Occopa- Pongora, and Muyurina rivers

causing damages in houses, crops and roads. At least 3 610 persons have been affected and 11 000 hectares of crops have been affected.

• In Huancavelica at least 548 persons have been severely affected and a total of 6 035 hectares of crops have

been completely destroyed. • In Arequipa, the Civil Defence Committee declared in emergency the province of Arequipa which has been

severely affected by heavy rains and landslides. At least 71 families have been left homeless, 6 100 persons have been severely affected, while 22 000 persons have been affected.

• In Ucayali overflowing of Ucayali River has caused damages in crops and houses. At least 1,117 persons have

been affected and 585 hectares of crops devastated.

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• In Cusco, heavy rains and floods have caused damages in at least 300 houses in Paucartambo province. • In Madre de Dios, 15 houses have been destroyed and 40 affected by heavy rains and floods in the province of

Tambopata. At least 200 persons have been evacuated to temporary shelters. • In the department of Ica, the provinces of Chincha, Pisco, Ica, Palpa and Nasca were declared in emergency

due to heavy rains and floods. • In Apurimac Department, at least 25 districts in the provinces of Grau, Antabamba and Aymares have been

affected by overflowing of Chalhunca River and huaicos, isolating several localities. At least 1 170 persons have been affected.

• In Ucayali, heavy rains have affected to more than 600 families in the province of Padre Abad due to

overflowing of Aguaytía River. Dengue fever outbreak The Ministry of Health has declared the Department of Loreto in red alert due to an aggressive dengue outbreak, where at least 12 persons have died. Other departments in Peru have been declared in yellow alert in order to prevent the epidemic. Health official explained that it is a new form of dengue known as Asian- American which is aggressive and of rapid evolution, and that it was not registered in Peru before. Health authorities have taken measures in order to tackle the epidemic in Iquitos. Also a PAHO support team has arrived in Iquitos in order to support health authorities.

2. HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE AND MAIN ISSUES

• On the 27TH of January the new Law on Disaster Risk Management was approved by the Congress. The new Law contemplates the creation of the National System of Disaster Risk Management (SINAGERD in Spanish). The mandate of the Civil Defence (INDECI), will be now limited to disaster preparedness and response.

VII DIPECHO ACTION PLAN

• A total of 22 project proposals have been pre selected, observations and recommendations have been sent to

possible partners. After the selection process, it is expected that selected projects start on 18th April 2011. • 4 Regional projects have been pre selected and 18 national projects in eight countries. 5 of the pre-selected

projects have been submitted by consortiums of organisations.

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Regional Humanitarian response and main issues

Regional rainfall forecast

LA NIÑA Update - La Niña conditions are likely to continue through the first quarter of 2011, and possibly into April or even May. Beyond that time, the evolution of El Niño/La Niña cycle is uncertain. Regions typically impacted by La Niña events are advised to take note of the expected continuation of moderate to strong La Niña conditions over the coming 1-2 months and weaker La Niña conditions during March and April.

February – April 2011

Venezuela: More probabilities of precipitation above normal levels in most of the country. Colombia: More probabilities of precipitation above normal levels in the Andean and Caribbean regions.

Ecuador: More probabilities of precipitations of normal and above normal levels in Andean highlands and central coast. In the southern highlands and Amazon region normal levels of precipitations.

Peru: More probabilities of normal precipitation in most of the country.

Bolivia: In the Altiplano and east plains more probabilities of precipitation of normal or above normal levels. In the central and northern valleys more probabilities of normal precipitations.

Chile: More probabilities of precipitation above normal levels in the northern Altiplano. In the central and southern regions precipitations below normal levels, in the austral region more probabilities of normal precipitations.

Argentina: More probabilities of precipitation below normal levels in the central and northeast regions most of the country. While, in the northwest, coastal and southern regions precipitations above normal levels.

Sources: (CIIFEN), International research centre on el Niño