Damascus/Beirut/Geneva, 17 April 2019 – Heavy rains have caused the worst flooding in a decade across Syria’s Al Hasakeh region, where 118,000 people are facing near complete destruction of their homes and livelihoods. The majority of the affected population are internally displaced people who have fled conflict in Northern Syria and are receiving humanitarian assistance from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the only organization that has access to this part of the country. Several camps for internally displaced people have been heavily affected across the region, including some 40,000 people in Al Hol camp and approximately 86 million square metres of land have been submerged in flood waters, destroying crops and livestock. Paula Fitzgerald, Head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Country office in Syria, said: “The flooding is unlike anything this region has seen in years and is occurring on top of what is already a humanitarian crisis. The affected population has recently fled conflict and lost everything. These floods push people beyond their ability to cope.” More than 120 Red Crescent volunteers are involved in providing emergency relief and health services to people in need. The IFRC has launched an international emergency appeal seeking 3.5 million Swiss francs to expand Syrian Arab Red Crescent support to an additional 45,000 people (9,000 families) with the provision of basic household relief items, food parcels (ready to eat and food for cooking), water, sanitation and hygiene and health services over the next six months. “The Syrian Arab Red Crescent is providing critical support to these very vulnerable communities whose needs have doubled as a result of this disaster,” said Ms Fitzgerald. “The IFRC and all International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners are working together to address these needs against a backdrop of incredible complexity. A swift response is essential to let these people know that they are not alone.”

Tehran/Geneva, 15 April 2019 – An estimated 2 million people – one in every 40 people in Iran – need humanitarian assistance as a result of the massive floods that have swept across the country. Heavy rains and flash floods have affected more than 2,000 cities and towns across almost all of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. An estimated 10 million people have been affected in some way, including more than half a million have been displaced from their homes – some permanently. At least 78 people have been killed and more than 1,136 injured. Zahra Falahat, the Iranian Red Crescent’s Under Secretary General for International Affairs and International Humanitarian Law said: “This is the largest disaster to hit Iran in more than 15 years. The scenes that our volunteers are reporting are devastating – entire villages washed away in a matter of minutes, countless homes and buildings damaged and completely destroyed. “For the Red Crescent, this is one of the largest humanitarian relief efforts in our history. We are making every single resource we have available to save and support people. But it is not enough.” More than 18,000 Red Crescent relief workers – most of them volunteers – have been involved in the humanitarian response. Seventeen Red Crescent helicopters along with 41 boats have been used to rescue people trapped by rising waters. In all, more than 457,000 people have been reached with Red Crescent services, including about 239,000 people who have been provided with temporary shelters. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an international emergency appeal seeking 5.1 million Swiss francs to expand Red Crescent support to an additional 30,000 families (equivalent to about 150,000 people). The IFRC-supported part of the operation will focus on providing unconditional cash grants to each of these families. The operation also seeks to replenish some of the emergency stocks that the Red Crescent has used so far to ensure that it can continue to respond quickly to emergency needs throughout the country. The Iranian Red Crescent has been emptying its warehouses in response to this operation, distributing vast numbers of tents, blankets, plastic sheets and other emergency commodities, as well as providing tons of food stuffs. With further rains forecast in the coming days, it is feared that the impact of this disaster could continue to grow. Sayed Hashem, IFRC’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, is in Iran to support local response efforts. He said: “The needs caused by this disaster are very real, and the response of the Red Crescent and other local actors has been remarkable. But this emergency is so severe that international support is absolutely needed. We urge our partners around the world to support our appeal.”

Beira/Nairobi/Geneva, 14 April 2019 – One month after the worst disaster in Mozambique’s recent history, signs of recovery are beginning to emerge as people return home and as the deadly cholera outbreak appears to be starting to abate. However, hundreds of thousands of people will need sustained support over the coming months if recovery is to take hold, says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Florent Del Pinto, Head of Emergency Operations for IFRC in Beira, said: “There is still a huge amount of work to do, but some of the immediate dangers are passing. “New cholera cases are declining. This is thanks in part to the work of Red Cross volunteers and staff who have provided clean water and sanitation, as well as treatment and care. But we cannot afford to be complacent – this work has to continue.” The disaster response operation, led by the Mozambique Red Cross with support from IFRC and other partners, has helped more than 38,000 survivors in the month since Cyclone Idai made landfall. Relief supplies have been distributed to some 19,000 people, 900 people have been treated at Red Cross field hospitals and clinics, and more than 250,000 litres of clean water have been produced and distributed. “This work has been effective, and we are now starting to see the initial green shoots of recovery in central Mozambique,” said Titus Queiroz dos Santos, Mozambique Red Cross Director of Programmes. “The survivors of this disaster are still suffering, but many are already determined to go home and rebuild their lives and livelihoods. The Red Cross will be there to support them at every step of the journey.” The Mozambique government has reported that the number of people still sheltering in relocation centres has dropped by half in recent days. The Mozambique Red Cross and partners are distributing relief supplies such as tarpaulins and shelter kits to people in need, and IFRC is deploying a dedicated team to plan a 24-month recovery programme focused on shelter, health, livelihoods and disaster risk reduction. Some 1.85 million people were affected by Cyclone Idai, which the World Bank estimates has caused 2 billion US dollars of damage in the affected countries. The Mozambique Red Cross and IFRC Emergency Appeal seeks 31 million Swiss francs to support 200,000 people.

Beira/Geneva, 3 April 2019 – More than 2,300 people isolated since Cycone Idai struck Mozambique received a major delivery of Red Cross emergency supplies late yesterday. The community of Buzi, which lies to the south of the city of Beira, had been almost entirely cut off from large-scale assistance as a result of the flooding and damage caused by the unprecedented storm more than two weeks ago. The distribution was the first of many that will target 20,000 people in Buzi. Jamie LeSueur, team lead for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said: “The distribution efforts that began yesterday in Buzi are a significant milestone in this disaster response due to the inaccessibility of communities. All relief supplies brought in for this distribution were delivered by boat and air, as all road access has been completely impossible.” The Red Cross delivery included basic but essential relief items such as shelter kits, jerry cans, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, buckets and tools. Supplies that will help stave off the growing threat of disease that many communities are facing, including clean water and mosquito nets, were also provided. The Mozambique Red Cross has been on the ground even before Cyclone Idai hit nearly two weeks ago and continues to support more than 200,000 people across the disaster zone. Cyclone Idai is the worst humanitarian crisis in Mozambique’s recent history. “We know there are many hard-hit areas like Buzi where people desperately need help. We are doing all we can to reach these people as quickly as possible,” said LeSueur. “The families that we met yesterday have been through so much. But there was real joy today, and it was amazing to see the resilience of these people as they begin down a path to rebuild their lives.”

Beira/Nairobi/Geneva, 21 March 2019 – Two major emergency response units are being deployed to Beira in Mozambique as the world’s largest humanitarian network continues to scale up its response to Cyclone Idai. The first will provide basic sanitation facilities for up to 20,000 people. The second will produce up to 225,000 litres of clean water per day – enough for 15,000 people. The humanitarian experts accompanying the units will arrive in the coming days, with the equipment to arrive in Beira early next week. Jamie LeSueur, the Head of Operations in Mozambique for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said: “We know that health risks can rise dramatically in the aftermath of any emergency, let alone one of this magnitude. We are concerned about the potential spread of waterborne disease. These emergency response units will be crucial for preventing that spread, and for making sure that people have the basic support they need.” A third emergency response unit, designed to manage the complex logistics involved in an operation of this scale, is also being deployed. In addition to water and sanitation, IFRC and Mozambique Red Cross are also aiming to address the massive shelter needs caused by the tropical cyclone and the floods. According to the government, at least 400,000 people have been displaced. Red Cross volunteers have already distributed emergency shelter kits – made up tarpaulins and basic tools – to about 1,500 families. These kits were part of a consignment that IFRC managed to deploy to Beira ahead of the flooding. Tomorrow (22 March), an additional consignment of emergency shelter kits for 3,000 families will arrive at the Beira port. These crucial supplies were deployed in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai from a French Red Cross warehouse on Réunion island. “Many people have been waiting for days for rescue and for support. It’s encouraging that the humanitarian response is really starting to come to scale. But more help is needed, and we are continuing to do all we can to bring in more resources and to reach more people,” said LeSueur. IFRC and Mozambique Red Cross are appealing for 10 million Swiss francs to help 75,000 people. Red Cross will focus on reaching those worst affected by the crisis. In addition to water and sanitation and shelter, IFRC is also focusing on responding to health needs and to ensuring that cyclone survivors are safe from harm during the coming recovery. IFRC Secretary General, Elhadj As Sy, is in Beira today and tomorrow and will be visiting Red Cross response efforts and meeting with affected communities.

Beira/Nairobi/Geneva, 19 March 2019 — With reports that at least 400,000 people have been made homeless in central Mozambique, the world’s largest humanitarian network is warning that the full extent of the “humanitarian catastrophe” caused by Tropical Cyclone Idai may take days to become clear. Jamie LeSueur, who is leading response efforts in Beira for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said: “This is the worst humanitarian crisis in Mozambique’s recent history. It is a humanitarian catastrophe for the people of Central Mozambique. Large parts of Beira have been damaged, entire villages and towns have been completely flooded. Rescuers are scrambling to pull people trapped on rooftops and in trees to safety. Many, many families have lost everything,” LeSueur said. Large areas to the west of Beira have been severely flooded. In some areas close to the Buzi and Pungwe rivers, flood water are metres deep and have completely covered homes, telephone poles and trees. Jamie LeSueur said: “The scale of suffering and loss is still not clear, and we expect that the number of people affected as well as the number of people who have lost their lives may rise.” IFRC and Mozambique Red Cross have today launched a 10 million Swiss franc emergency appeal to support about 75,000 of the worst affected people in central Mozambique. The appeal prioritizes shelter, and water and sanitation. Red Cross teams in Beira are today (19 March) distributing shelter supplies to affected families in Beira. Additional supplies for at least 3,000 families are being brought in by ship from the French Red Cross’ Indian Ocean Regional intervention Platform (PIROI in French) on Réunion Island. Red Cross volunteers in Beira are also handing out chlorine so that people can purify water. Aid workers are worried about the health risks in the wake of the cyclone, said LeSueur: “Waterborne diseases can increase in the aftermath of a disaster such as this due to the contamination of the water supply and disruption of usual water treatment. Outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis, hepatitis, cholera and other diseases could follow as a result,” LeSueur said. Malaria is endemic in Mozambique, peaking during the December to April rainy season. The extensive flooding could result in stagnant water that could become perfect breeding sites for mosquitoes. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is also present in the affected area. The ICRC has launched its Restoring Family Links activities to assist families separated by the cyclone to reconnect or register their ones as missing. It also deployed a forensics specialist to help manage the dead in a dignified way and donated fuel to Beira Central Hospital to ensure the critical health facility in the province continues to have power. Note: Amendment to Mr LeSueur's quote in third paragraph: "... Mozambique's history..." to "...Mozambique's recent history..."

Nairobi/Geneva, 12 March 2019 —Mozambique is on high alert as Tropical Cyclone Idai barrels towards the country’s central coast. Red Cross disaster response teams in Zambesia and Sofala provinces are readying response plans in anticipation of the cyclone’s landfall towards the end of the week. Dr Fatoumata Nafo-Traoré, Regional Director for Africa for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said: “This dangerous and powerful cyclone could pose an extreme risk to tens of thousands of people in Mozambique. Our teams are on high alert in anticipation of a potentially destructive landfall. “We encourage people in Mozambique to remain alert, to keep following weather forecasts, and to respond immediately to any warning messages that are relayed by authorities”. According to meteorologists, Idai’s intensity is equal to that of a Category 3 Atlantic hurricane. However, at its peak intensity, it may reach the equivalent of a Category 4 or even a Category 5 hurricane. Depending on its intensity and trajectory, Cyclone Idai could also exacerbate the situation in southern Malawi where more than 115,000 people have been affected by severe flooding. In Malawi, Red Cross search and rescue teams are ferrying people trapped by the rising water to safety, as well as distributing basic relief items in six of the worst-affected districts. Mozambique is regularly hit by cyclones. In February 2007, Cyclone Favio damaged or destroyed 130,000 homes and displaced tens of thousands of people. In 2000, Cyclone Eline hit an already flood-affected central Mozambique, leaving about 463,000 people homeless. Together, the floods and the cyclone killed about 700 people.

A little over six months ago the world watched in horror as a massive dam wall collapsed in Laos. It was late July 2018 when powerful flash floods caused by the collapse of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower dam hit more than 13,000 people in the southern province of Attapeu, Lao PDR. The floodwaters swept away the homes of more than 6,000 people and left behind mud and rocks on farmlands which had been the source of livelihoods and income for many families in the region. Today, many of the affected people have returned to their newly-repaired homes, while those whose houses were destroyed remain in the temporary shelters, waiting for permanent housing being built by the Laos Government. For Ing Phommachan, 51, and his family of seven, life has changed dramatically. He used to make a living selling products from his rice plantation and his farm animals. Now, he can no longer support his five children’s primary and secondary education. Many aid organizations including the Lao Red Cross have been providing support to families like Ing’s, distributing household items such as kitchenware and bedding, as well as food and clothes. In January 2019 the Lao Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) distributed cash grants to 1,464 households; those people whose houses were severely damaged, and who were living in temporary shelters in Sanamxay district. Depending on the number of family members, they received between 70 to 106 Swiss francs (69 to 105 US dollars). This cash-based intervention is the type of assistance that helps people meet their specific needs with freedom and dignity. In Attapeu where people were unable to go back to farming, cash allows them to buy food, medicine, and, among the most popular items, bicycles which could take them to find jobs and bring their children to and from school. In the case of Ing, he plans to use the cash on his children’s education. With his old vehicle destroyed in the flood, he will also buy transportation to take them to school. Hinla Saiyawong, 35, is from Thahin Village in the Sanamxay district. As a farmer, he used to be able to support his family of five, including his sister. He’d sell his products - including the river fish that he often caught from the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy River – at the market, making about 70 to 117 Swiss Francs (69 to 117 US dollars) to support his family every month. The July 2018 flash floods destroyed his house and his farm. For the next three months his family stayed at an evacuation centre until they again moved; this time to a government-built temporary shelter in Dongbak district. While the family had been provided with support such as food, household items, and hygiene products, Hinla still struggled to find ways to carry his produce to sell at the market and to send his children to school. He says the cash grant support will enable him to acquire necessary items to restore his livelihoods and support his family. He, too, also wants to buy a vehicle to transport his products and his children. As the communities slowly rebuild their lives, the Laos Red Cross continues to work with IFRC to help them restore their livelihoods, secure safe shelter, and improve the quality of water, sanitation and hygiene. And Laos Red Cross will stay with them, helping them to prepared for future disasters. -- This operation is made possible with support from the following donors and partners: American Red Cross, Australian Red Cross, Hong Kong branch of Red Cross Society of China, Danish Red Cross, European Commission – DG ECHO, Facebook, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Italian government, Italian Red Cross, Japanese Red Cross Society, Luxembourg government, New Zealand government, Red Cross of Monaco, Spanish government, Spanish Red Cross, Swedish Red Cross, Swedish government, Swiss government, Swiss Red Cross, The Canadian Red Cross Society, Canadian government, The Netherlands Red Cross (from Netherlands government), The Republic of Korea National Red Cross, United Nations Development Programme (from Chile government) and the Western Union Foundation.