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EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL HUMANITARIAN AID AND CIVIL PROTECTION - ECHO

Monthly report number 2013/11-12

Month NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

Country South America (except Colombia for HA)

Date of submission 10/01/14

Author ECHO Quito team

MONTHLY REPORT

1. SUMMARY / MAIN HIGHLIGHTS

(1) Argentina – Heat wave: An unprecedented heat wave affected the City of Buenos Aires. It has been the most intense and prolonged heat wave in more than a century. The city was declared in emergency as temperatures reached 44°C and lasted for 9 consecutive days. The collapse of the electricity service aggravated the situation. Social up-rising: At least nine people were killed as looting spread through Argentina for 7 days. Hundreds were injured as people took advantage of a police strike to rob shops and homes. Police refused to go on patrol until their demands for a salary rise were met. Twenty out of Argentina's 23 provinces have been affected. It took a while before officers reached a deal.

(2) Bolivia – Heavy rains and floods: Since November heavy rainfall registered in the country has caused damages in the departments are Cochabamba, Beni, Chuquisaca, Potosi and La Paz, affecting to at least 8,213 families and 29 have people have died.

(3) Brazil – Heavy rains and floods: Heavy rains and floods have affected many cities in Brazil. At least 45 people have died in the southeast of the country. Approximately 70,000 Brazilians have been forced to flee their homes in the states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo. Rains are feared to be the worst in 90 years. The National Government has allocated US$3 million to support reconstruction efforts.

(4) Chile – Forest fires: Several forest fires of great magnitude are devastating the central region of Chile,

where the government has declared red alert the regions of Maule, Valparaiso, Metropolitan, Los Lagos and La Araucania. More than 16,000 ha of forest have been devastated by the fires.

(5) Ecuador –Tungurahua Volcano activity: Tungurahua volcano’s activity continues to be moderate/high.

The volcano is under strict surveillance. Drought: Four municipalities in Guayas province were declared in emergency due to water deficit in Pula River, where at least 70,000 people in the rural areas of Guayas province have been affected.

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Earthquakes

Coldwaves

Floods

Droughts

Landslides

Volcanic eruption

LEGEND

Storms

Fires

Tsunami

Epidemics

Venezuela

Uruguay

Suriname

Peru

Guyana

French Guiana

Ecuador

Colombia

Chile

Brazil

Bolivia

Argentina

Paraguay

Response operation

Response operation monitored

DP operation

DP operation monitored

Venezuela

Uruguay

Suriname

Peru

Guyana

French Guiana

Ecuador

Colombia

Chile

Brazil

Argentina

Paraguay

Bolivia

EVENTS

Ecuador Tungurahua Volcano activity continues to be moderate/high. Drought registered in several municipalities of Guayas province. Bolivia Heavy rains and floods are affecting the departments of La Paz, Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba and Potosí. Brazil Heavy rains and floods are affecting the States of Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahía.

Argentina: An intense heat wave affected the capital city of Buenos Aires. Police protests caused a severe social unrest in the country.

Chile: Forest fires have devastated 16,000 ha in central Chile.

ECHO MAIN ACTIVITIES

Monitoring visit to DIPECHO project in

Ecuador with Auditor.

Monitoring visit SSR and DIPECHO Projects in Peru with Desk Officer BB.

Monitoring of Drought Resilience Project in Bolivia with SM (Unit A4 Sectoral Policies).

Monitoring visit to projects in Bolivia with Desk Officer BB.

Monitoring visit Drought and DIPECHO Projects in Paraguay

Monitoring visit DIPECHO projects in Chile.

ECHO LAC Meeting and Gender Training

(Panama)

Workshop IRFC DIPECHO Regional project in Peru.

C4 visit and audit mission to ECHO Quito Office

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ARGENTINA 1. EVOLUTION OF THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Heat Wave An unprecedented heat wave affected the City of Buenos Aires. It has been the most intense and prolonged

heat wave in more than a century. The city was declared in emergency. According to the National Meteorology Service high temperatures reached 44°C and lasted for 9

consecutive days. The national government put in force an emergency operative to provide assistance to 11,000 families

affected by the heat wave and the interruption of the electricity service. Electricity consumption also reached its record causing a severe collapse of the electricity service leaving thousands of families without air conditioning.

A special contingency team was established by the Security Ministry, Social Security, Health Ministry and the police.

Medical mobile spots and water and food distribution spots were settled to provide aid to affected population without electricity service. Also, power generators were distributed to hospitals and health centres.

On the other hand, residents in Buenos Aires turned out to the streets to protest and demand the immediate re-establishment of the electricity service. Deadly Argentina looting

At least nine people were killed as looting spread through Argentina for 7 days. Hundreds were injured as people took advantage of a police strike to rob shops and homes.

Police refused to go on patrol until their demands for a salary rise were met. Widespread unrest - Twenty out of Argentina's 23 provinces have been affected. It took a while before

officers reached a deal. The governor of Buenos Aires, Argentina's most populous province, managed to avert a strike by agreeing

to almost double the entry-level salary of the police to 8,500 pesos ( $1,360) a month. The government said the lootings were being coordinated "by political forces" through social media and

blamed the opposition for the unrest. It informed that those who were behind the violence would be charged.

Police said entry-level salaries of below 6,000 pesos a month were not sufficient to keep up with Argentina's rising inflation and consumer prices (IMF estimates 25% inflation).

At least 1,900 shops were looted in 20 provinces reporting losses for approximately $ 313.250.000 pesos (34,829 M EUR).

BOLIVIA

1. EVOLUTION OF THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Heavy rains and floods

According to the Vice-Ministry of Civil Defense, since November heavy rainfall registered in the country has caused damages in the departments are Cochabamba, Beni, Chuquisaca, Potosi and La Paz, affecting to at least 8,213 families and 29 have people have died.

Cochabamba is the most affected department where the authorities reported that rains and hailstorms affected 1,450 families in 14 municipalities in the region.

BRAZIL

1. EVOLUTION OF THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Heavy rains and floods

Heavy rains and floods have affected many cities in Brazil. At least 45 people have died in the southeast of the country. Approximately 70,000 Brazilians have been forced to flee their homes in the states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo.

The President Dilma Roussef, offered millions of dollars in terms of federal aid to respond to the emergency situation.

ECHO MAIN ACTIVITIES Venezuela: Monitoring Caritas DIPECHO Project in

Venezuela. Ecuador Monitoring UNDP and CARE DIPECHO

Projects in Ecuador.

ECHO MAIN ACTIVITIES Venezuela: Monitoring Caritas DIPECHO Project in

Venezuela. Ecuador Monitoring UNDP and CARE DIPECHO

Projects in Ecuador.

ECHO MAIN ACTIVITIES Venezuela: Monitoring Caritas DIPECHO Project in

Venezuela.

Ecuador Monitoring UNDP and CARE DIPECHO

Projects in Ecuador.

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A great number of homes, roads and bridges were destroyed and many cities were left without power and drinking water. Rains are feared to be the worst in 90 years.

According to weather forecasts heavy rains are expected in the following days. The National Government has allocated US$3 million to support reconstruction efforts in the state of

Espirito Santo. The state´s population has also mobilized itself and collected close to 10 tons of humanitarian aid (mostly dry food rations and clothing) According to state authorities, and in order to palliate the damage caused to the population and infrastructure in the state, a US$540 million “Reconstruction Plan” will be launched soon focused in infrastructure and mitigation works.

Heavy rains have also caused affectation in the states of Río de Janeiro and Bahía were 15 died as consequence of the floods.

In Río de Janeiro airports were temporarily closed and the train systems were delayed after waters flooded parts of the city. The government of the state of Río requested aid in terms of provision of water, food rations and other items for more than 2,000 families that were displaced.

In Bahía, at least 70 homes were destroyed and 200 people were sheltered in temporary shelters. Six persons are still missing.

CHILE 1. EVOLUTION OF THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Fire spots Several forest fires of great magnitude are devastating the central region of Chile, where the government has

declared red alert the regions of Maule, Valparaiso, Metropolitan, Los Lagos and La Araucania. Only in the Metropolitan Region fires have destroyed more than 11,000 ha of forests and the smoke covered

the city of Santiago. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, more than 16,000 ha of forest have been devastated by the fires;

there are at least 55 fire spots from which 33 have been controlled. Fires are mainly caused by extremely high temperatures and strong winds. More than 1,500 fire fighters are fighting the fires and US$100 million have been allocated for controlling the fires.

ECUADOR

1. EVOLUTION OF THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION Tungurahua volcano activity According to the National Geophysical Institute, Tungurahua volcano’s activity continues to be moderate/

high. Continuous explosions accompanied by ash columns of three kilometers have been registered during

several days. The Volcano behaviour is irregular and it is under strict surveillance. Drought Four municipalities in Guayas province were declared in emergency due to water deficit in Pula River. Daule, Salitre, Santa Lucía and Palestina are implementing actions to protect 18,000 hectares of crops,

mostly rice. The mayors of these municipalities have requested urgently the provision of drinking water due to difficulties to collect water from the rivers.

Works along the river will cost approximately 2 million dollars. The lowest part of Pula River is where a great part of sediment is disposed affecting at least 70,000 people in the rural areas of Guayas province, mainly small rice producers.

ONGOING OPERATIONS DRR/Resilience Programmes 2013-2014

DRR/ Resilience Projects started in May: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile and Argentina.

ECHO MAIN ACTIVITIES Venezuela: Monitoring Caritas DIPECHO Project in

Venezuela. Ecuador Monitoring UNDP and CARE DIPECHO

Projects in Ecuador.

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Regional Humanitarian response and main issues

Regional rainfall forecast

14.5 MEUR

26 projects en 18 contracts

55 partners, 9 consortia

4 regional projects

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Uruguay: More probabilities of precipitation near normal levels in most of the country. Paraguay: More probabilities of precipitations near normal levels in most of the country.

DEC. 2013 – FEB. 2014

Venezuela: More probabilities of precipitation near normal levels in most of the country. Colombia: More probabilities of precipitation slightly above normal levels in the Andean, Caribbean and Pacific regions. Ecuador: More probabilities of precipitations above normal levels in the Andean region. Peru: More probabilities of precipitation slightly above normal levels in most of the country. Bolivia: More probabilities of precipitation above normal levels in the highlands and valleys. More probabilities of precipitation below normal levels in the northern region of the country. Chile: More probabilities of precipitations near normal levels in the highlands, central, and southern regions. In the Austral region precipitations below normal levels. Argentina: More probabilities of precipitation near normal level in most the country.

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