Storm Surge

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Philippines: Despite their own losses, volunteers kept showing up to help others

When six typhoons roared through the Philippines late last year, it was the Philippine Red Cross volunteers who showed up time and time again. Typhoon Kristine was the first to arrive, pounding communities with months of rainfall in just two days, triggering catastrophic landslides and submerging entire neighbourhoods.Barely had the storm passed when another hit, and then another. Typhoons Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito (all in local names) struck within days of each other, wiping out homes, possessions, and livelihoods.And as soon as there was access, Philippine Red Cross volunteers sprang into action. Equipped with boats and ropes, they started search and rescue efforts, pulling people to safety. Then, as people headed to evacuation centres, they served hot meals, provided clean water, conducted health checks, and offered psychosocial support to those overwhelmed by their losses.Many of the local volunteers and their families were themselves affected by the destruction, and after days and weeks of response, the level of exhaustion was beyond what anyone expected. And yet, they kept turning up day after day for their shifts.Ready to actOne of those volunteers was James Bryan Asma, a 22-year-old nursing student from Naga City. When Typhoon Kristine struck, James and fellow volunteers were already at the Camarines Sur chapter office, monitoring the weather.“It was raining. But we thought, ‘It's just rain, we are used to it,’ ” he recalls. “But it didn't stop.”When floodwaters rose to dangerous levels, James joined rescue missions around the town.“The highlight was saving a two-month-old baby,” he shares. “A grandmother approached us, desperate for help for her child and grandchild. We navigated through floodwaters to reach their home. To escape, the family climbed out of a small window and onto the roof, where we brought them to safety on our boat.”The rescue operations took days as floodwaters did not recede. Later on, James continued to support people at evacuation centres with information on how to stay safe from diseases and infections.Turning up every day, despite his own exhaustion, came at a cost for James. His family’s house and his university dorm were flooded, leaving him with a lingering sense of guilt for not being able to do more for his loved ones and friends. Fatigue hit hard, too.“I saw it in myself, and also in my co-volunteers that they are very exhausted. Our routine of operations every day, traveling far with barely any sleep —it's very tiring.”Despite the physical toll, James found joy in the gratitude of the people they helped. “Seeing their faces light up and hearing their thanks motivates me,” he said. “It uplifts their dignity and reminds me why I volunteer.”Providing health care around the clock For Leonard Ivan Barilla, a 38-year-old nurse and veteran Red Cross volunteer, Typhoon Kristine was a call to action. Week after week, he turned up everyday at the evacuation centre to help with health checks and hygiene promotion, only to head home for a few short hours sleep before his night shift at the hospital.“I only slept for four hours before going to the field,” Leonard explains. “My shift with the Red Cross was from 8 am to 5 pm. And then my work in the hospital was from 11 pm until 7 am in the morning. I did this schedule for one month during the height of the response for Typhoon Kristine.”“I checked vital signs, treated fungal infections and wounds, and provided medicine for high blood pressure, fever, and other ailments. Many seniors had lost their prescriptions, so we brought medicines to them from the provincial health office.”Leonard also focused on hygiene promotion to prevent diseases in the evacuation centres. “We taught people about handwashing, provided hygiene kits with soap, toothpaste, and towels, and distributed disinfectants,” he said. “We even implemented measures to prevent dengue by cleaning stagnant water and fogging affected areas.”Leonard’s dedication extended beyond medical care. “Every day, we travelled to remote areas, sometimes seeing 20 to 30 people,” he shared. “I always asked, ‘What do you need?’ before giving medicine. It wasn’t just about treatment—it was about understanding and addressing their root problems.”Despite the challenges and exhaustion after weeks of response, both volunteers expressed unwavering dedication. “We’ve built a family among the volunteers,” James explained. “It’s what keeps us going, even when we’re exhausted.”For both volunteers, their experiences underscore the transformative power of volunteerism. “This was my first time being deployed in a typhoon,” James said. “It showed me the depth of the Red Cross community and its commitment to helping people—not for politics or show, but to truly make a difference.”

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Philippines: Red Cross remains steadfast in supporting communities as they rebuild after six back-to-back typhoons

“Can we still handle this? Let’s just carry this burden. Just carry it, even if it's heavy. Let’s not give up — we can get through this somehow.”The words of Janet Menes from Camarines Sur resonate deeply across the Philippines, where families like hers are striving to rebuild their lives after an unprecedented six typhoons struck their country in just less than a month late last year.Three months later, Philippine Red Cross staff and volunteers continue to work tirelessly to help people to get back on their feet. In one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world — with an average of 20 tropical cyclones a year — they provide life-saving aid before, during and after emergencies.Critical support amidst the devastationBetween October and November 2024, typhoons and super typhoons Kristine, Leon, Marce, Niko, Ofel, and Pepito (all local names) tore through the country, leaving over 14 million people affected.Torrential rains, gushing winds, and landslides destroyed homes, damaged infrastructure and disrupted livelihoods. Entire communities like Janet’s were hit repeatedly, barely recovering from one disaster before the next arrived.In Albay, Jeanette and Jefferson Mata Septo experienced a devastation they had never experienced before. “It was a severe storm. We didn’t expect that the water would rise so high in our area,” Jeanette recalls.The rising floodwaters forced them to seek refuge in multiple locations, including neighbours’ homes. When the waters were simply too high, there was nowhere else to go but the highway. There beside the road they waited — soaked, exhausted, and with only the few documents they had managed to save.When Jefferson returned to their home after the waters subsided to salvage what he could, he could not believe what he saw. “That morning, when he returned to our house, the floodwaters were still high. He was trying to save our belongings, and I think the stress from that situation triggered him having a stroke,” Jeanette says.After an emergency visit to the local hospital, Jefferson was put on critical, life-long medication to avoid another stroke.The Philippine Red Cross proved to be a lifeline, providing medication for Jefferson’s hypertension, along with kitchen and hygiene kits to help the family rebuild. “The medicine provided by the Red Cross was a huge help. Medicine is costly,” Jeanette explains.Helping families rebuildfrom scratchIn the neighbouring province of Camarines Sur, Janet, her husband Albiz and their six children, faced the same devastating situation caused by Typhoon Kristine. But as the heavy rains pelted down, Janet had developed a high fever and was too sick to evacuate to a proper shelter.“By evening, the water rose," she recalls. "My husband helped move our things to higher ground, but some of our belongings were lost. I couldn’t assist much due to my fever."The family sought refuge in the nearby cemetery, where they endured days of high waters and harsh conditions.The family returned home to find their house in ruins, with only the roof remaining. Again, the Philippine Red Cross provided critical assistance.“Before Christmas, we received 5,000 pesos (around USD 100) from the Red Cross," Janet explains. "We used it to buy plywood for the roof and lumber for the kitchen. Now we’ve made some quarters—a living room, a kitchen, and then the walls."Support for as long as neededThe Philippine Red Cross, supported by the IFRC Emergency Appeal, has been at the forefront of response and recovery efforts following Typhoon Kristine and the five other consecutive major typhoons that hit the country.From search-and-rescue missions to support for people living in evacuation centres, their efforts have been critical to maintaining health and wellbeing in the aftermath.In evacuation centres, hot meals composed of rice, boiled eggs and sardines were distributed, as well as clean drinking water. This is crucial because when people lose their belongings in a typhoon, cooking stoves and utensils are also often lost.Children were supervised in child-friendly spaces with colouring in, singing and dancing activities and the chance to talk to trained volunteers about their needs and concerns. Health desks provided checkups including testing blood pressure. Where needed, medicine was provided to prevent the spread ofdiseases and infections that often come with the extreme weather.As communities recover, the Red Cross will continue to deliver what people need: cash to rebuild homes and buy essential items, livelihoods support so people can go back to work, and the psychosocial support of staff and volunteers embedded in their own local communities.Janet says she talks to her children about preparing for future disasters now, and her words are as much for the children, as they are for her and Albiz.“Let’s not give up—we can get through this, somehow.”

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Emergency

Southwest Indian Ocean: Tropical Cyclone Chido

Tropical Cyclone Chido, a Category 4-equivalent storm with devastating winds and rains, severely impacted the Southwest Indian Ocean region, causing at least 117 deaths and affecting over a million people across Madagascar, the Comoros, Mayotte, Mozambique, and Malawi. Chido is the third named storm in the 2024-2025 cyclone season which is expected to continue until May 2025. Your donation will help the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, and Malawi to provide life-saving assistance, and enhance preparedness for future storms.

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Season of the floods: The Philippines Red Cross responds to the floodwaters that never went away

The floodwaters came, but they never left. In the region around Bulacan, a provincial area in Luzon, in northern Philippines, many communities have been literally knee-deep in water for more than three months plus now.Water that overflowed the banks of a river that surged in July, has remained, covering the landscape in a shallow pool ever since.“We got used to the flood waters stagnating in our homes,” saysMeldrid Liodel, a 53-year-old single mother. “We have tried not to get stressed about it. It is very difficult to stand up [due to the water], especially the cleaning, the cleaningof our homes [is difficult].”“I have six children and seven grandchildren.If you ask why we do not just move away, this is where we were born, we grew up, we made families, and we continue to fight for our lives.”Meldrid, as well as all her neighbours and communities, are learning to live their daily lives in shin-deep water. They get around in narrow canoes and many received boats from the local government to help with their daily commutes.The gardening they do for daily sustenance has also changed radically. They’ve started planting vegetables that grow well on water, and they began open air-drying fish that they catch from their rooftops. The fish and vegetables they use to earn a small income and feed their families.“These floods here started happening way back when Mount Pinatubo erupted many years ago,”Meldrid adds.“Before this, we had crops, we had a lot of rice fields, the farmers could farm, the fishermen could fish well.”Mount Pinatubo is just more than 90 kilometers from Bulacan, Central Luzon, where Meldrid’s community lives. Many years after the eruption, they realised that the entire local irrigation network, as well as the water channels and infrastructure in the surrounding regions, had been damaged by the volcano. Ever since, thousands of communities were suffering from continuous floods that would never subside.The floods are a result of a combination of back flooding, high-tide, and water brought in from storms and typhoons. This has occurred more frequently in the past decade.Just the beginningYet, this is not the full story. The Philippines sits one of the most disaster-prone zones in the world. Yearly, the country experiences multiple typhoons, floods, volcanic activity, and even earthquakes.By late November 2024, a total of six typhoons had pounded the Philippines back-to-back in various regions, dumping onto its land copious amounts of rushing water and causing widespread destruction. While international aid is vital for humanitarian purposes, it is not immediate, and affected people are in dire need of help the very hour the disaster hits.The storms only intensified the already chronic flooding problem. “Typhoon Carina was very strong, and it was sudden,”says Amelia Torres, who stands with her husband in their living room, which has been carpeted in to two feet of water since July 2024. “It suddenly intensified and didn’t go away and it didn't stop. The floods didn't subside.”All their belongings are hanging on the walls, dangling from the ceiling, or are perched on top of shelves and tables. Their bed and mattress are in the living room, about one foot above the water. “Sometimes, it's only dry for just 3 months of the year,” she adds.Rapid response fund to the rescueThis is where the IFRC DREF – Disaster Response Emergency Fund has been such a critical asset. This fund delivers financial support directly to local humanitarian actors—both before a crisis is expected to hit and after. These funds go directly to National Societies, and they are those that are very embedded in local communities.In the case of recent storms, the funds enabled the Philippine Red Cross to galvanize their response to quickly reach people while further funds are being procured globally. They were able to prepare evacuation centres,deploy evacuation teams, and quickly get hot meals, essential items, hygiene kits and more to the people.The IFRC-DREF mechanism was originally designed to respond to small- and medium-sized disasters, but it has evolved to include support for anticipatory action. By acting before disasters strike, IFRC aims for it to enable the saving of more lives and livelihoods and minimizing the devastating impacts.The Philippines have been a recipient of IFRC-DREF three times for the year 2024, and the Philippine Red Cross, along with the IFRC and partners, have been helping with relief, evacuation, hot meals, medical aid, and much more.That support is critical to people like Edgardo Sibbaluca, a construction worker in Rizal, another province in Central Luzon. His family of six experienced the full force of Super Typhoon Carina that hit in July this year.“We couldn’t save anything; we lost all our belongings,”he says. “We had to evacuate. We are now sleeping in the evacuation centre. Food is being brought to us, and that’s what we’re relying on. Fortunately, it occurred in the morning. If it had happened at night, many would have died.I felt weak; all I could see were piles of trash. I felt very weak. “But I’m thankful that at least our lives were spared. I’ll rebuild my house and fix my surroundings. I’ll plant again and go back to work. I’ll restore everything to how it was so I can get back on my feet.”“I feel like we have to be cautious now,”added Edgardo, who expressed gratitude for the support he received from the Red Cross. “We need to be prepared for disasters because we might have to evacuate again.I’m afraid of strong disasters that come suddenly.I want us to be strong and brave, to face challenges without fear and to be prepared.”By Rachel Punitha, IFRC Senior Communications Officer, Asia Pacific

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Emergency

Philippines: Typhoons and Floods

The Philippines has been impacted by six tropical typhoons in less than a month – an unprecedented pattern of extreme weather, that has devastated communities, leaving them no time to recover. The destruction of homes, schools, and livelihoods has left vulnerable communities in urgent need of basic necessities like food, water, and shelter, and the cyclone season is not yet over. This emergency appeal will help make a meaningful difference for 97,250 people supported by the Philippine Red Cross in this response.

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'It’s a hustle': Fish market folk in Barbados experience more struggle since Hurricane Beryl

Fish-market folk are used to hustling every day. Take June Cummins at the Bridgetown Fish Market in Barbados.On the morning we meet, she’s looking for ice being specially delivered because the regular ice machine is broken.“It’s a hustle life,” says June, a small vendor who coordinates with boat captains as well as fish cleaners, processers and buyers.Since Hurricane Beryl swept across the country in early July, there’s been less coordinating with the four boat captains she regularly works with. One boat sank, while three others needed significant repairs. People asked why she cried when seeing the damage.“This is my livelihood,” she told them.June has been a fish vendor for thirty years, keeping a family tradition once held by her mother and brothers. Sometimes her sister stops by to scale fish.“It don’t be easy,” says June.The fish market life earned her around 250 USD a week before Beryl. Now, she’s making around half of that or less, depending on available swordfish, marlin and other deep-sea fish.Before the storm, she could get fresh catch on credit and pay later when she sold the filets. Now, she pays up front even though she still has to cover basic expenses, like rent and utilities.“I make sure rent is covered before food,” she says.Recently, the Barbados Red Cross Society met with fish-market folk in multiple towns on the island. The information gathered so far confirms impacts for people who rely on fishing. In response to the storm, the IFRC launched an emergency appeal to support Red Cross National Societies provide much needed support to people, some of whom have lost everything to this unusually powerful hurricane.“They generally have savings, but they haven’t any left,” says Danielle Toppin, director-general of the Barbados Red Cross and part of the team doing the interviews.The men in the market don’t want to borrow, she adds, but they’re doing what they must during this downturn following the storm: asking loved ones for help.The Red Cross will be helping, too. Plans are underway for providing help to as many local fish-market folk as possible.While the details are being worked out, vendors like June will carry on as part of the Swordfish Queens at stall #3 in Bridgetown, especially now that Charles, her favorite captain, and his boat 'Sea Gypsy' are ready.“If there’s enough fish to get, I’ll come on Sundays.”

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Season of floods: Youth in Fiji help their communities prevent the damage caused by climate change

“Strange,” Seru says tersely.“The weather that we are supposed to be experiencing at this time of the year should be dry and sunny instead it is wet and cold.”Seru Ramakita, 61, was born and raised in the village of Navuevu – a two-hour drive from Suva, the capital city of Fiji.“As a result of the continuous rain, we are now experiencing flooding. This is the first time in 50 years that the village has experienced flooding.”Home to over 300 hundred people, Navuevu village is grappling with one of the many challenges of life with climate change.As Seru looks out over the water, the midday sun is blanketed by dark clouds as a slight ray of sunshines peeks through a cleft in the clouds. The rustle of the coconut leaves brings back memories, some familiar, some new.“Even during past cyclones, we did not experience flooding,” he says. “The flooding has affected our root crops.”The crops ended up getting submerged in water hence affected their growth. “Now we have no choice but to move our farm to higher ground”, Seru says“As a result of the saltwater inundation due to the flooding, our root crops such as cassava are not able to grow properly, and all our hard work has gone to waste.”In this series, we explore how communities are working to reduce the risks of weather-related crises even even as they are busy helping people recover from the last devastating disaster.Robin Kaiwalu, 33, is a Fiji Red Cross youth volunteer who also resides in Navuevu village, has been affected by the recent floods.“The flooding reached up to my knee and my whole plantation was under water.”“All my crops are damaged including plantain, cassava, taro. Not only do we depend on this for food, but we also sell it as a source of income."Before joining the Y-Adapt program, Robin was an unemployed youth who focused on his family and hobbies like rugby. When he joined the Y-Adapt program, he realized there was a lot to learn through the Fiji Red Cross programs, which motivated him to become a volunteer. He has been volunteering for five months now.WHAT IS Y-ADAPTY-Adapt is a youth-based training program designed to educate, engage and inspire young people to take action and become climate change leaders in their communities. It also builds climate resilience through increased technical understanding and planning skills to take climate action.Over 60 youths have participated in the Y-Adapt program. About 70 per cent of them were unemployed or had dropped out of school. However, some are now pursuing vocational studies, while others have found employment in hotels or are seeking jobs.Through collective action and collaboration, the youth can leverage their diverse ideas, skills, and perspectives to tackle climate change challenges effectively.Fiji Red Cross Society, with support from Japanese Red Cross and IFRC, has been able to train the youth volunteers in Navuevu and equip them with knowledge, skills and resources to address the issue of flooding in the village.In the village, any activity must be approved at a village meeting before proceeding. The youths consulted the village headman to help present their action plan at the meeting, where it was subsequently approved.To ensure active participation, the youths organized a garbage drive along their coastal area and within the village. The drive saw a good turnout, including stakeholders like hotels, the police, the Provincial Council, Disability Associations, and villagers, resulting in the collection of over 150 kg of rubbish.Since most youths were unemployed and needed bus fare and funding for necessary documentation, the village collectively agreed to cover these expenses to support the youth group's initiatives.The village was pleased to see the youths working together to achieve their goals.“After consultations with the village head and the elders, we decided that we came to the conclusion that we needed to construct rubbish bins to help with proper disposal of rubbish,” says Robin.Buying a large bin to accommodate the village's population is very expensive for the youths and involves a lengthy process through the Town Council and Provincial Office before it can be installed in the village. The youths were encouraged to keep their activities low-cost, achievable, and within a set timeframe, so they decided to construct their own bin.“This way the rubbish would not block the drains and the next time it rains; the water will not overflow into the village,” says Robin.“We are very grateful and appreciative to Fiji Red Cross for implementing this program in our village,” says Seru.The tremendous support of the community members, particularly the families of the youth participants, has been instrumental in driving the success of the Y Adapt program in Navuevu.The encouragement and backing received from within the village highlight the value placed on youth-led initiatives that aim to address local environmental challenges and contribute to community well-being.“It is very heartening to see our youths, the future leaders of tomorrow, taking the lead in helping their very own communities with such initiatives," says Seru.“The Y-Adapt Program stands as a beacon of hope and progress in the fight against climate change, demonstrating the power of youth empowerment and collective action in creating sustainable and resilient communities,” says Robin.“For now, we will continue to plant our crops on higher grounds and another goal is to set up an evacuation centre for the village so that when it floods the next time, families are able to seek shelter at this centre.”Text bySoneel Ram (IFRC) with editing by Rachel Punitha (IFRC) | Photos: Kurt Petersen (Petersen Fotography) and Fiji Red Cross Society.

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Emergency

Vietnam: Typhoon Yagi

Typhoon Yagi made landfall in Viet Nam on 7 September, leaving behind severe flooding and landslides, particularly in northern mountainous provinces and urban areas like Hanoi. The Viet Nam Red Cross, supported by the IFRC, aims to reach 130,000 of the people most affected by the typhoon with humanitarian assistance through shelter, food security, livelihood, health and water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in the seven targeted provinces.

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Press release

Millions affected as Super Typhoon Yagi hits Vietnam

Bangkok/Kuala Lumpur/Geneva, 13 September 2024– Super Typhoon Yagi, one of the strongest storms to hit Vietnam in three decades, has left a trail of destruction and continues to threaten the lives of millions across northern and central parts of the country.After passing through China’s Hainan Island, Tropical Cyclone Yagi intensified into a super typhoon, making landfall in Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong City in Vietnam at 13:45 local time on 7 September 2024.With torrential downpours and powerful winds exceeding 200 kilometres per hour, the super typhoon has forced more than 50,000 people to evacuate their homes. It triggered widespread flooding, flash floods, and landslides, causing severe damage to roads, bridges, and buildings, uprooting trees, and disrupting electrical and telecommunication networks. The affected areas are experiencing prolonged power outages, communication loss, and water supply disruptions.According to authorities, nearly 190,000 homes have been flooded, damaged or destroyed, with at least 325 people reported dead or missing, and an estimated 1.6 million people affected overall. These numbers are expected to rise as damage assessment continues, while the risk of further flooding and landslides remains high throughout the affected regions.Immediately after initial impact of the typhoon, the Vietnam Red Cross Society organised the mobilisation of relief items, such as food, medicine, and cash distribution worth up to VND 5.5 billion (190,000 CHF) to support affected communities. Red Cross staff and volunteers have been deployed to assist with debris cleanup and to provide psychological first aid, and disaster response teams are also continuing to collaborate closely with the authorities to conduct damage and needs assessments in the affected areas.Local Red Crossbranches are implementing measures such as early warning communication, supporting the reinforcement of houses, providing assistance at temporary evacuation and shelter points, and closely monitoring storm updates so they’re on standby for emergency response.Despite having now weakened into a tropical depression, Yagi continues to cause extended periods of heavy rainfall, leading to ongoing flooding and landslides across 26 provinces, including the capital city of Hanoi.Mr. Nguyen Hai Anh, Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, said:“Nearly 19 million people are living in the affected provinces. We are deeply concerned about their health, well-being, and ability to cope with the impact and consequences of Super Typhoon Yagi, especially those in vulnerable conditions, such as the elderly and children.“The Vietnam Red Cross Society has been working closely with relevant authorities and organisations to support the national and local response efforts. We have launched resource mobilisation campaigns in a spirit of solidarity to support the affected populations in overcoming this deadly tragedy.”Kathryn Clarkson, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Head of Country Cluster Delegation in Bangkok covering Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam, said:“This extreme and prolonged weather event is continuing to have a widespread impact on many local communities, including in areas where we have rarely seen this kind of disaster occur previously. People’s resilience is being stretched, and there is an urgent need to provide both immediate relief and recovery support to the affected populations.“IFRC is working closely with the Vietnam Red Cross Society to mobilise international support to address the growing and evolving needs of the affected populations, especially with health services, water and sanitation as well as restoration of shelter and livelihoods.”Note to editors:Visuals: Additional photos and video available here:Dropbox – Viet Nam Typhoon Yagi 2024For more information or to request an interview, please [email protected] Bangkok: Kovit Pholsena, +66 (0) 81 837 8876In Kuala Lumpur: Afrhill Rances, +60 19 271 3641In Geneva: Hannah Copeland, +44 7535316633

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Press release

One Year Since Morocco Earthquake and Libya Floods

Benghazi / Rabat / Beirut / Geneva, 4 September 2024 – One year after the devastating earthquake in Morocco and catastrophic floods in Libya, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), alongside the Moroccan and Libyan Red Crescents, remains committed to supporting the recovery and rebuilding efforts in these hard-hit regions. These disasters, which struck within days of each other in September 2023, left deep scars on the affected communities, but also demonstrated the strength and resilience of those impacted.Morocco: A Year of Recovery and ResilienceOn 8 September 2023, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the High Atlas Mountain range in Morocco, affecting over 660,000 people and causing widespread destruction. Over 59,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving 380,000 people without shelter. From the outset, the Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRC) mobilized to provide emergency aid, including search and rescue operations, first aid, and the distribution of essential relief items.Reflecting on the past year, Dr. Mohammed Bendali, Head of Disaster Management, First-Aid Volunteering and Youth for the Moroccan Red Crescent, said, "The scale of the devastation was immense, but so was the response. Our volunteers and staff worked tirelessly to support the affected communities, providing not only material aid but also mental health and psychosocial support to help people cope with the trauma of the disaster."The focus has now shifted to early recovery, with efforts concentrated on providing durable, insulated shelters, temporary classrooms and clinics, enhancing access to clean water and sanitation, and rebuilding livelihoods, while also looking to complement the support provided by the government to the affected families. Despite the challenges, the MRC remains committed to supporting the affected families for as long as necessary.Libya: Facing the Aftermath of Unprecedented FloodsIn early September 2023, Storm Daniel unleashed heavy rainfall on Libya's northeastern coast, resulting in catastrophic floods that claimed over 5,900 lives and left more than 43,000 people homeless. The failure of two dams above the city – the first at about 11pm on 10 September, the second closer to 1am on 11 September – unleashed catastrophic amounts of water on the city of Derna.The Libyan Red Crescent Society (LRCS) was on the ground immediately following the disaster, providing critical emergency aid, including search and rescue operations, first aid, and the distribution of food, water, and shelter materials. Tragically, the disaster also claimed the lives of several Red Crescent volunteers who were working to save others."One year on, the pain of loss is still deeply felt in the communities we serve," said Omar Jaouda, Secretary General of the Libyan Red Crescent. "But the resilience of the people is remarkable. We have continued to support those most affected, including thousands who are still displaced, as they rebuild their lives and homes."Going forward, the Libyan Red Crescent is transitioning to long-term recovery and resilience by prioritising three key areas: first, increasing attention to recovery and resilience planning and implementation, ensuring that communities are equipped to withstand future shocks and recover effectively. Second, the National Society will bolster its capacity, preparedness, and readiness. And, third, the Libyan Red Crescent will enhance its security management practices to safeguard its operations and personnel, particularly in challenging environments, while also ensuring accountability in all its actions to maintain trust and transparency within the communities it serves.The IFRC’s Emergency Appeal for Libya, which aimed for CHF 20 million to address the extensive needs, has raised CHF 12.4 million to date. These funds have been critical in supporting 130,000 people with essential services, including shelter, health care, and psychosocial support. The IFRC is also working to enhance the LRCS’s capacity for future disaster response by renovating key facilities and equipping an Emergency Operations Centre in Derna.Looking Ahead: A Long Road to RecoveryBoth Morocco and Libya face long and challenging roads to recovery. The IFRC, together with the Moroccan and Libyan Red Crescents and other Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world, will continue to stand by these communities, providing the necessary support to ensure that they not only recover but also build resilience against future disasters."The events of last year were a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by communities in disaster-prone regions," said Dr. Hossam El Sharkawi, IFRC Regional DIrector for the Middle East and North Africa. "But they also highlighted the importance of local preparedness and the incredible impact of collective humanitarian efforts. We are committed to supporting the Moroccan and Libyan Red Crescents in their ongoing work to help these communities rebuild and thrive."For more information or to request an interview on/from Morocco or Libya – or from an IFRC spokesperson able to talk about both - please contact: [email protected] In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67Andrew Thomas: +41 76 367 65 87In Beirut: Mey Al Sayegh: +961 761 744 68

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Article

Cyclone Remal: Two months on, hard-hit communities struggling to get by and rebuild

The water from Cyclone Remal was already up to their necks when35-year-old Tanya and herhusband had to evacuated their home and go to a storm shelter.“My house was destroyed and now I live with my in-laws nearby,” she says.“I have three children. Two daughters and a son, and taking care of another boy as well; four children in total. All my children were born in our house, that is now destroyed.”Tanya’s story is shared by thousands whose lives were dramatically changed when the cyclone made landfallnear the Mongla and Khepupara coasts in Bangladesh and West Bengal of India on 26 May, 2024.According to Bangladesh’s Department of Disaster Management (DDM), under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), about 4.6 million people were affected by Cyclone Remal in 19 districts.More than807,000 people were evacuated to 9,424 evacuation shelters across 19 districts. Over 173,000 houses were damaged, including 40,338 that were completely uninhabitable. Now families are struggling to get back on their feet.“Before the cyclone and flooding, my husband did daily tasks to help other families in the area — with things like farming,” Tanya continues.“He worked as hired support for other people in the village who need deliveries.“Options are not that many here for people who need to do day-to-day work for survival. So, my husband was already struggling beforehand. Now it’s worse, because everybody in the community is affected. If there is work, we can eat. Otherwise, we don’t get food.”The storm also had a devastating impact on food security and livelihoods. More than 50,000 fishing farms were destroyed, and more than 80,000 hectares cultivable land were inundated, by the high winds, waves and storm surges of cyclone Remal.In the wake of the storm, theBangladesh Red Crescent immediately began providing emergency food through its eight coastal branching, distributing a seven-day food package to 50,000 people. They also provided hygiene kits, tarpaulins and sleeping mats, among other things.Access to clean water is also critical, as over 20,000 water points and more than 134,000 latrines were damaged by the storm. In response, two mobile water treatment plants (reverse osmosis) for desalination were deployed in Khulna and Satkhira districts, distributing safe drinking water to more than 5,000 households.Two Mobile Medical Teams were also mobilized, providing primary healthcare services and psychosocial support.The immediate resonse was supported by a 1 million Swiss Franc allocation from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) and an emergency appeal that was launched by the IFRC seeking 12.5 million Swiss Francs to support ongoing operations.In the coming months, the focus will be on building back livelihoods and shelters. For many, the storm took away their single most important life investment: their homes.In the case of 65-year-old Yunus, a husband and father of two the storm took away the home he had been building and developing over ten years with his own hands.Since his family came back from the evacuation shelters to find their house destroyed and belongings gone, Yunus’ wife has been in complete shock and has been crying most of the time.“We have lived like this, with cyclones for years, so we thought that this would be a ‘normal’ one,”said Yunus.“We went to the shelter in a hurry, and we didn’t have the chance to protect anything. At 3 am I escaped from the shelter to see what was happening here, and I saw that everything was gone. The road was gone, and the house was covered in water.""I remained in the shelter for days because I literally could not return to my house. There was still a small rice paddy, but all the rice was gone. I got some chicken and hens as food support.”“I am literally living in a kind of hell. There is a temporary cooking station at the back of my house, but nothing to eat.”“Yesterday I built a new small area to sleep in, because it is not possible to live in our destroyed house. The remains of it are tilted and full of loose pieces of wood and aluminum; it is dangerous to be inside. So, I am building a new temporary place for us to sleep in as soon as possible."Story by Camilla Bruun SimonsenEditing by Rachel PunithaPhotos: Al-Shahriar Rupam (IFRC)

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Article

Hurricane Beryl: For hard-hit islands, preparation paid off with rapid response. But recovery is complicated by widespread damage.

Well before Hurricane Beryl made landfallon the Caribbean Island nations of Jamaica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Red Cross volunteers, local authorities and residents had been working hard to prepare for the worst.Anticipating road blockages, power outages and scarcity of clean water and food, Red Cross crews were preparing relief packages and moving supplies as close as possible to the places most likely to be in need after the storm.By the time HurricaneBeryl made landfall in Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados,it was classified as a category 4 hurricane. High winds toppled trees and power lines, tore entire roofs from houses and in some cases, blew buildings completely off their foundations.On the islands ofCarriacou and Petite Martinique, more than95 per cent homes of were either damaged or destroyed, according to official estimates. Aerial photos showed large swaths of destruction where neighborhoods once stood. Nor did the storm spare health facilities, airport buildings, schools or petrol stations.When Hurricane Beryl arrived in Jamaica, it brought extensive damage across the island. Roads were blocked by fallen trees, downed power lines and landslides, while power outages and structural damage to important public facilities hampered response efforts.“This is the strongest hurricane to strike Jamaica in almost 17 years — since Hurricane Dean in 2007,” said Rhea Pierre,the IFRC’s disaster manager for the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.On all the islands, relief and rescue efforts were complicated by continued bad weather, power outages, road blockages and damage to infrastructure. In many cases, the hardest affected areas were also cut off from basic services.Thanks to storm warnings, thousands of people gathered safely in shelters. But the storm also claimed lives.Authorities have so far confirmed at least 15 deaths:five in Grenada, five in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, two in Jamaica and three in Venezuela. But the number could still rise as the assessment continues.Preparation paid offDespite the damage, the advance work paid off. In the aftermath, volunteer crews were ready to act, visiting hard-hit communities and making detailed assessments of people’s needs. They handed out supplies, offered first-aid and lent a listening ear to people coping with their losses.“We are out giving out distributions such as tarpaulins and jerry cans, as well as cleaning tapes and food supplies for those families who were affected by the hurricane,” said Zoyer John, a volunteer for the Grenada Red Cross as she stood in front of a badly damaged house.“Most of the damage to our tri-island state occurred in the islands ofCarriacou and Petite Martinique. But here on the main island, on the north of the island, a lot of people were also impacted.”In Jamaica, Red Cross volunteers were also on the ground quickly doing rapid assessments and distributing supplies they had prepared at the beginning of the hurricane season. As the hurricane approached, those stocks were moved to safe storage facilities close to the places where the impact was expected to be heaviest.All this advance work was bolstered by an allocation of CHF 1.7 million from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF), based on the anticipated needs of people in the storm’s path. This forward-looking outlay meant that communities could count on emergency assistance without having to wait for fundraising after the storm.In the days following the hurricane, the IFRC also launched an emergency appeal of CHF 4 million to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, protection and recovery support to the most affected families. The operation will support 25,000 people (5,000 households) over a one-year period.In the initial days, the focus will be on the distribution of relief items and short-term shelter solutions that will cover people’s immediate needs. Over time, however, the plan is to also carry out interventions that help people ensure access to dignified and safe shelter — focusing on building back better — as well as provision of cash and vouchers for specific goods.It will also offer various supports for restoration of livelihoods. Due to the storm’s impact on infrastructure, many people on the islands have been left without an income. In Barbados, the fisheries industry and small business owners along the southern coastlines were heavily affected by storm surges that caused widespread damage.Health interventions are also planned to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. National Societies will focus on supporting people’s hygiene needs as well as safe water, mainly through the delivery of household water-treatment kits.More storms to comeOn the minds of all Red Cross National Societies in the region is the fact that hurricane season is just beginning. This is one reason the emergency appeal also supports interventions aimed at reducing people’s vulnerability to future disasters and enhancing community disaster response.With Hurricane Beryl now one week in the past, residents must now try put their lives back on track while at the same time, getting ready for whatever might come next.This is the new reality that Caribbean small island nations face as hotter-than-normal water temperatures in the southern Atlantic and Caribbean act as fuel for storms, causing them to intensify quickly into major hurricanes. This gives communities less time in between storms to recover and prepare.“Events like these are no longer a one-off and this highlights the need for local actors to lead the way in preparedness and anticipatory action,” added Rhea Pierre,the IFRC’s disaster manager for the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. “We are seeing that kind of preparedness in action right now.”

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Emergency

Caribbean Islands: Hurricane Beryl

Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 1 July as a Category 4 hurricane and has since left a trail of devastation across the Caribbean. Through this emergency appeal, the IFRC and its membership aim to support the Red Cross Societies of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados, and Jamaica in their response to the hurricane through the provision of immediate humanitarian assistance, protection, and recovery support for the most affected families. The IFRC and its membership will support 25,000 people (5,000 households) for a period of 12 months.

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Press release

Urgent Aid Needed as Cyclone Remal Ravages Southern Bangladesh

Dhaka/Kuala Lumpur/GenevaThe Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and others, has a launched an emergency response in the wake of devastation caused by Cyclone Remal. The IFRC launched a CHF 12.5 million Emergency Appeal that aims to assist 650,000 people in the 8 hardest-hit districts with clean water, food, medical aid and cash assistance.Cyclone Remal has left southern Bangladesh in a state of crisis, affecting over 4.59 million people and causing extensive damage to approximately 150,000 households in 19 coastal districts. Making landfall on 27 May near the Bangladesh-India border, the cyclone brought wind speeds of up to 111 km/h and storm surges of 5-8 feet, resulting in severe flooding and prolonged power outages for 27 million people.People were killed, homes destroyed, and the cyclone disrupted infrastructure, including airports in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar, leading to international flight cancellations from Dhaka.Alberto Bocanegra, Head of Delegation for the IFRC in Bangladesh, said,“The devastation caused by Cyclone Remal is immense, and immediate support is vital.Our Emergency Appeal will quickly attend to families with damaged houses, and the provision of water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. Furthermore, critical assistance will be proved to those severely impacted in terms of livelihoods such as agriculture, fish farming, and marginalized groups, displaced individuals living in collective centers, with relatives, or in others’ houses, and families with vulnerable groups.”“We urge the international community to stand with Bangladesh during this critical time.”Kazi Shofiqul Azam, Secretary General of BDRCS, added, “Our volunteers have been on the ground from the onset, providing critical assistance. Support from our partners and the global community is essential for individuals affected and the community system to recover well.”In Cox’s Bazar, the cyclone caused minor landslides and damaged 500 makeshift shelters, affecting 3,000 individuals. In Bhashan Char, heavy rains led to waterlogging and minor infrastructure damage.Further crisis would emerge if we do not attend to all the above to well.”As the cyclone continues to wreak havoc, the Red Cross Red Crescent network calls for urgent global support to provide essential aid to those affected.Notes to Editors:For more information or to request interviews, please contact: [email protected] In Bangladesh:Areefa Sinha, +8801970089077, Al-Shahriar Rupam, +8801761775075,In Kuala Lumpur:Afrhill Rances, +60192713641In Geneva,Andrew Thomas +41 76 367 6587Tommaso Della Longa + 41 79 708 4367

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Article

Climate crises Q&A: Why have some recent storms gained so much strength, so quickly?

An interview with Juan Bazo, climate scientist with the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, by Susana Arroyo Barrantes, IFRC Americas Regional Communications ManagerSusana Arroyo:In October 2023, Hurricane Otis caused a lot of astonishment after it went from a tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane in just 12 hours. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, it was the most powerful hurricane ever recorded on the Mexican Pacific coast. Did El Niño have something to do with the rapid intensification of Otis?Juan Bazos: It was a combination of warm oceans, along with El Niño. In addition, the entire Pacific coastline of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and the coasts of Costa Rica, have been very warm. This has allowed the formation of cyclones and storms. Some of these storms have even passed from the Atlantic to the Pacific.Regarding the intensification, this has happened before, Hurricane Patricia in 2015, also had this very rapid intensification in less than 12 hours off the Pacific coast of Mexico, but the impact was not in a very populated area.For a scientific point of view, it is increasingly difficult to forecast this type of intensification. Most, if not all, of the models failed in the short-term forecast, which is one of the most reliable forecasts we have in meteorology. This is due to several factors: the rapid intensification, very local atmospheric conditions, and the temperature of the ocean water in this part of the Mexican coast.Increasingly, intensification is not only occurring in the Pacific and Atlantic of our region, but also in the Indian Ocean. In The Philippines, this has happened many times. That is a challenge, both for the climate services and for the humanitarian response.SA: One thing we depend on to make life-saving decisions is rigorous, accurate, effective forecasts. If we are moving towards an era of greater uncertainty, then we must also look at how we anticipate on other fronts. What can we expect for this year?JB: In the following months, we would normally be entering a neutral period and quickly passing to La Niña phenomenon. And this will also bring its consequences, changing the whole panorama. It could be that this year we will have to prepare for a hurricane season that may be higher than normal. So, we must keep monitoring, considering the climate crisis and the Atlantic Ocean that is still very warm.SA: The IFRC has tried to make more alliances with meteorological institutions dedicated to researching, monitoring, and understanding the climate. Is that one of the paths to the future, to strengthen this alliance? JB: Increasingly, the IFRC has scientific technical entities as its main allies, to make reliable decisions, and I think that is the way we must continue to work. Scientific information will bring us information for our programs and operations at different time scales, in the short, medium, and long term.We must not ignore climate projections but plan how we can adapt knowing that the climate is going to change. This is part of our work, from our policies to our interventions and I think the Red Cross and Red Crescent network does this very well. However, we need to empower ourselves more, get closer to the technical scientific entities, the academia, which are our allies. They can bring us much more information — much richer, much more localized. And this is the next step we must take.SA: Many changes are also coming in the field of meteorology. Now, using artificial intelligence (AI) and increasingly large amounts of data, there will be changes and likely improvements in forecasting. Could we therefore get more reliable forecasts in terms of rapid intensification?JB: Artificial Intelligence opens a lot of room for innovation. Meteorology is not 100 per cent accurate. There is always that degree of uncertainty and there are going to be failures. It is part of our planet's atmospheric chaos, of its complexity and the many variables that play a role in weather forecasting. In that sense, AI will be a great added value for the improvement of forecasts.This brings to the table the need for 1) greater investment in forecast-based early action systems, 2) early warning systems that are more agile, flexible, and capable of informing and mobilizing the population in record time, and 3) humanitarian aid that is pre-positioned to respond to disasters as they occur.IFRC is a lead in the Early Warnings For All Initiative, which will provide early warnings to people across the globe by 2027. Learn more.

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Press release

“From satellites to sandbags”: Putting water at the heart of climate action.

Geneva, 22 September 2023 -As proved so tragically in Libya last week, while water holds the key to life, alltoo often it kills. Whether – like in Derna - it’s too much water leading to floods, or too little water causing droughts, or polluted water resulting in health risks, addressing the dangers that water poses can save lives. As climate change intensifies these threats, there is an urgent need for action. That is why a new collaboration matters so much. With funding and support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands ‘Water at the Heart of Climate Action’ is an ambitious partnership between the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), The Netherlands Red Cross, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF). This collaboration will combine local knowledge and global technology to help communities understand and act on the water-related risks they face - before they become disasters. The programme is focused on supporting the countries of Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan,and Uganda, which make up the Nile River basin. These countries are not only among the Least Developed Countries in the world but are also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. To ensure the implementation of this five-year partnership, the Government of the Netherlands has generously committed 52 million Swiss Francs (55 million euros). The aim of the ‘Water at the Heart’ collaboration is to address climate-related risks that too often fall between the cracks of most country-level water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) policies. It will focus on practical, locally-driven action to better anticipate disasters and prepare communities well in advance. It will also use the latest science and technology to monitor and forecast weather and water-related hazards. It furthermore invests in communications technologies to warn communities of what is coming and enable early action. As a result, this programme is a direct contribution to the implementation of the UN Secretary General’s ‘Early Warnings for All’ initiative. Jagan Chapagain, the Secretary General of the IFRC said: “Water is life. But too much or too little water can wreak havoc on people’s lives and homes. Almost three-quarters of all recent humanitarian disasters were water related. This initiative makes mitigation of the impact of such disasters an absolute priority. With thousands of IFRC network volunteers across South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda, the IFRC network is uniquely positioned to deliver innovative and trusted local action. Through our partners, those actions can be informed by technology including the best forecasting and observation. This really is a ‘sandbags to satellites’ all-encompassing initiative.” Mami Mizutori, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the head of UNDRR said: “To save lives, lift people out of poverty and ensure that development gains are sustainable and irreversible, we must stop hazards from becoming disasters. Water at the Heart of Climate Action is a demonstration of the commitment of the Netherlands to helping some of the most vulnerable countries build their resilience in the face of climate change.” Maarten van Aalst, Director General of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) said: “As a national Meteorological Institute, we see the rapid increase in weather extremes in our changing climate, and we realize that we need partnerships all across society to make sure our warnings lead to early actions. The Netherlands’ vulnerability as a low-lying delta is significantly reduced by the power of good data and predictions, and the ability to act on that information — from satellites to sandbags. Water at the heart will strengthen our peers in the Global South to deliver similar services, and KNMI is proud to be supporting those efforts with peer support.” WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas said: “The majority of hazards are water-related, particularly floods and droughts. Climate change will further increase the frequency and severity of these events. End-to-end early warning systems are critical to save lives and minimize the impact of disasters. WMO is working with SOFF to close the basic weather and climate observation data gap and strengthen the foundational element of better data for better forecasts. Water at the Heart of Climate Action will make a tangible contribution to the Early Warnings for All initiative.” Paul Bekkers, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN, WTO and other international organizations in Geneva, said: “Water should not be posing risks to vulnerable frontline communities! On the contrary, we can empower communities to transform water from a hazard into a valuable resource. By leveraging indigenous knowledge and investing in early warning systems. The Netherlands proudly supports this partnership that places the needs of local communities at the heart of water action!” REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE TALKING ABOUT ‘WATER AT THE HEART’ AT THE UN PRESS BRIEFING IN GENEVA FROM 10.30AM ON FRIDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER. THE VIDEO OF THE BRIEFING WILL BE POSTED HERE SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. FOR INTERVIEWS WITH THOSE INVOLVED, PLEASE CONTACT VIA THE DETAILS BELOW IFRC - Andrew Thomas / [email protected] / +41763676587 CLIMATE CENTRE - Alex Wynter / [email protected] / +447717470855 WMO – Clare Nullis / [email protected] / +41797091397 SOFF - Pauline Trepczyk / [email protected] / +41796407857 UNDRR – Jeanette Elsworth / [email protected] / +41766911020 PERMAMENT REPRESENTATION OF THE NETHERLANDS - Joyce Langewen / [email protected] / +41794486110 NETHERLANDS RED CROSS - Bastiaan van Blokland / [email protected] / +31704455612

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Press release

Climate Change: Red Cross calls for more investments in local action as European and African leaders meet in Brussels

Nairobi, Kenya. 17 February 2022 – As parts of Southern Africa are reeling from the impacts of tropical storms and cyclones and other parts of the continent are facing severe droughts, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is calling for urgent investment in local action to combat the effects of climate change. The call comes ahead of the 6th European Union-African Union (EU-AU) Summit which gets underway today in Brussels, Belgium. Recently, tropical storm Ana in Mozambique, Malawi, and Madagascar, and cyclone Batsirai in Madagascar again, left hundreds of thousands of people displaced, homes destroyed, and infrastructure worth billions of dollars damaged. At the same time, humanitarian organizations in Africa warned this week of a catastrophic hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa (Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia) where more than 20 million people are feared to face starvation because of prolonged drought. The Sahel and West Africa, particularly Nigeria, also face a deteriorating food security situation. Mohammed Mukhier, the Regional Director for IFRC Africa said: “What we are witnessing is a manifestation of the impact of climate change on the continent. We need to strengthen investments in local preventative measures that build people’s ability to cope with these intensifying disasters.” Countries in Africa are only responsible for four per cent of global carbon emissions, and at the same time disproportionately affected by the widespread consequences of climate change and accelerated environmental degradation. Yet, climate financing pledged by world leaders is slow to reach the people on the ground who are most exposed to climate risks. Ahead of the Summit, the IFRC calls for renewed efforts to build and implement a new Africa-EU Partnership that would answer to the needs of the most vulnerable people exposed to the impacts of climate change and the environmental crisis, strengthen food and health security and address forced migration. In the longer term, the role of local actors should be strengthened to support communities in building resilience and addressing humanitarian and development challenges on the continent. Communities in Africa and elsewhere are also increasingly impacted by multiple hazards in addition to the changing climate, which are compounding their vulnerabilities and affecting their capacity to cope. “Communities can hardly recover before they are hit by another disaster. Madagascar is a case in point where we saw a devastating drought last year, and before those effects could be relieved, some of those same communities have been impacted by cyclone Batsirai recently.” said Andoniaina Ratsimamanga, Secretary-General of the Malagasy Red Cross Society. To support countries to cope, there is an urgent need to address underlying vulnerabilities in communities, including poverty and marginalization, and providing support to those most exposed to the impacts of climate change. At the same time, there is incredible potential that lies within the African continent to address these challenges, including innovative approaches by young people and women to issues such as land restoration and the use of digital platforms. For more information, or to request an interview, please contact: In Nairobi: Euloge Ishimwe, +254 735 437 906, [email protected] In South Africa: Thandie Mwape, +27 66 486 8455, [email protected]

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Press release

Madagascar: More than 4 million people at risk as Tropical Cyclone Batsirai bears down on eastern coast

Antananarivo/Nairobi, 4 February 2022—Tropical Cyclone Batsirai, is expected to strike the Atsinanana region of Madagascar tomorrow, only weeks after tropical storm Ana wreaked havoc in the country. Ahead of its landfall, Madagascar Red Cross Society’s teams in the region are preparing emergency relief items and helping communities in the path of the cyclone to move to safe areas. Andoniaina Ratsimamanga, the Secretary General of Madagascar Red Cross said: “Communities across the Atsinanana region are worried about the potential widespread damage the cyclone could cause. Many families urgently need temporary shelters, especially those whose homes are located in the areas that are likely to be impacted by the cyclone. It is predicted that about 4.4 million people are at risk across 14 districts; with about 595,000 expected to be directly affected, and more than 150,000 likely to be displaced. Red Cross teams Atsinanana region are rushing to make necessary preparations, with a view to saving as many lives as possible. “Madagascar Red Cross Society’s teams and partners are on high alert and are deployed in communities, warning them of the approaching storm. Red Cross teams are moving prepositioned emergency stocks from Grand Tana area (Ananalamanga) to Tamatave (Atsinanana), for ease of access. We are concerned by the size and projected impact of this intense cyclone. Our immediate response activities will focus on saving lives, and they will include search and rescue operations,” added Ratsimamanga. Moreover, Red Cross teams are working with the Government to identify and set up safe buildings which will be utilized as emergency accommodation centres. With emergency response efforts still ongoing due to the impact of tropical storm Ana that hit the Madagascar in late January, the impact of Batsirai could worsen the overall country’s humanitarian situation. The country’s emergency response efforts are overstretched, and the situation remains critical due to the impact of the recent widespread flooding, water stagnation and landslides caused by tropical storm Ana. At least 55 deaths have been recorded and more than 130,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to temporary shelters or host families in the last few weeks. The country is still grappling with a prolonged hunger crisis since 2021. IFRC and its partners are stepping up preparedness and response efforts, to assist more people—both those affected by Ana and those that are likely to be impacted by Batsirai IFRC’s Programmes and Operations Coordinator in Madagascar, Denis Bariyanga, who is overseeing emergency preparedness efforts, said. “We are already helping 2000 families affected by tropical storm Ana to meet their immediate needs. With the landfall of Batsirai, many more families in the country will require emergency relief items, including blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets, water, sanitation and hygiene, among others.” The IFRC had already released 428,609 Swiss francs from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 26 January 2022, to support Madagascar Red Cross to provide water, sanitation, and hygiene services, healthcare, and psychosocial support, as well as cash assistance for shelter, livelihood and basic needs. More financial resources are needed to meet the increasing needs on the ground. IFRC is revising its emergency appeal for funding the crisis response. For more information, or to request an interview, please contact: In Madagascar Mialy Caren Ramanantoanina, +261 329 842 144, [email protected] Ny Antsa Mirado Rakotondratsimba, +261 34 54 458 76, [email protected] Denis Bariyanga, (WhatsApp: +250 786 527 056), [email protected] María Mercedes Martínez; +261 32 1132 624, [email protected] In Nairobi Euloge Ishimwe, +254 735 437 906, [email protected]

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Article

No more excuses! The next disaster is coming, what are you doing about it?

By Robert Kaufman, Head of Philippines Country Office, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Imagine getting hit by six typhoons during a deadly pandemic. For millions of people in the Philippines, this is their reality as 2020 comes crashing to a close. Predictions of the increasing severity and frequency of emergencies have come true. It’s heart-breaking, exhausting, and scary. But most of all it’s frustrating as much of this human and economic toll can be prevented. We have known about the brutal effects of climate change for a long time, yet we haven’t been doing enough to fix it. Debates about the effects of climate change or whether partners should support more preparedness are failing people. If your roof blows off three times in one month and this extreme weather happens with relentless certainty, there’s nothing to debate. It is time to prepare more for what’s coming. We know that the Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, topping the charts with the most disasters of all countries the past two years. It’s number two for the past decade just behind China. We know the number of climate-related disasters has risen almost 35% since the 1990s. The stuff of Hollywood movies has become a reality for tens of millions of people around the world, as they face bigger, more violent storms and more disease outbreaks. For decades we anticipated another pandemic. Hollywood blockbusters told horror stories of contagious diseases. Since 2008, we’ve seen fantasy become reality with several pandemics, the H1N1 flu virus, SARS and now COVID-19. Yet somehow, the world has been taken by surprise. Let’s make no mistake, we have made inroads. Governments, humanitarian agencies and countless communities deserve credit for helping to save lives. Just seven years ago, the most destructive typhoon to hit the Philippines on record, Haiyan, killed close to 7,000 people. When Typhoon Goni hit in 2020, a storm as strong as Haiyan, less than 70 lives were lost. Still, I’m frustrated. Early on in management, I learned that when you spend significant time and money on something, it is a priority. Most of the time and money in the aid sector is still spent on response, as if we don’t know what’s coming; neither the humanitarian community, the policymakers, nor the big donors. Why are we not using our extraordinary capacity to anticipate crises to prioritize our time and money? What price do we need to place on the lives of people who have died or had their livelihoods ripped apart by disease and disaster before we change our priorities? Today, we largely know the types of risks we are going to face, where they are going to hit and even in many cases, when. Many of the answers are clear as day.Typhoons strike the Philippines every November and December. Floods always follow drought in East Africa. We know the risks and we know what to do about it. The latest study on the value of preparedness confirms what we already knew. Every dollar invested in reducing risks from climate-related disasters saves us $6 when we are fixing up the mess, according to the United States Institute of Building Sciences and the United Nations. Super Typhoon Goni packed the most powerful winds of any storm in the world last year. Together with typhoon Vamco and other major storms, they came at a huge cost, seriously affecting the lives of more than 8.1 million people. More than 425,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed. Among the millions whose livelihoods were disrupted, at least 200,000 farmers and fishermen lost their only source of income. The cost of agricultural damages totalled more than ₱12.3 billion (US260m) according to the Philippines Department of Agriculture. Together, the storms were considered the secondmost expensive typhoons on record, costing more than $US 1 billion. Money normally reserved for responding after disasters strike needs to be made available earlier and for longer-term solutions. We need to stop soil erosion, plant trees and improve drainage. We need to avoid crop wastage with better grain storage and irrigation. We need to build safer houses with stronger and more permanent foundations. We need to protect land rights and strengthen economic development and social protection programs so that people are not dependent on aid when disaster strikes. There needs to be a public accounting of how well resource allocation aligns with scientific prediction and the lessons we have learned. We must put our money where our mouth is. Failing is a dereliction of our responsibility to those most at risk and to ourselves. This past year, millions have faced often insurmountable hardships and heartache. We have a duty to protect the hope and dignity of those we pledge to support by ensuring everyone has a fair chance of a decent life. There just can’t be any more excuses.

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Article

“My children can finally sleep in a warm place”

Photo by Palestine Red Crescent Society Words by Ra’ed Al Nims, Palestine Red Crescent Society "We are drowning… Help us!" Palestine Red Crescent Society's Operations Room in Gaza received this distressing call during heavy rains, strong wind and cold weather in late January 2020. A team from the Red Crescent’s Disaster Management Unit (DMU) was immediately sent to the scene. What they found was an old, broken-down house with a roof that had started to cave in, causing mud, water and stones to fall into the rooms. "We were totally shocked by what we saw. Four brothers with their wives, children and their parents, 24 people in total, lived in this place that looked like it was slowly falling apart. Rain was falling down in torrents, and the children were terrified and crying", says Saleem Abou Ras, 26, a member of the DMU team. The team carried out a rapid assessment of the family’s needs and handed them tarpaulin sheets, cleaning tools, mattresses and blankets. "I live with my wife and five children in one room in this tiny house. Heavy rain made the roof of our room collapse and water, mud and stones fell on us while we were sleeping. My children were terrified. I did not know what to do. With the support from the Palestine Red Crescent, we managed to get through that horrible night", says Maher Al Kishawi, 38, one of the four brothers. "Our family is very big and we have no source of income. Without the help from the Red Crescent, our lives would have certainly been in danger", his wife, Suad Al Kishawi, 35, added. After that night, Red Crescent team visited the family again and provided them with additional relief items. "We are safe, at least for the time being. Most importantly, my children can now sleep in a warm room", Suad Al Kishawi says. The Red Crescent teams have distributed tarpaulin sheets, blankets, mattresses, heaters, hygiene kits and other relief items to around 450 families affected by cold weather in the West Bank and Gaza. Palestine Red Crescent Society continues to monitor the situation and to support people affected.

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