Throughout the world, catastrophes and crises occur continuously. Some grab international headlines – like the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria or the international armed conflict in Ukraine – but others go unnoticed outside the countries where they occur.
These smaller, lesser-known disasters claim lives, destroy livelihoods and set entire communities back.
In the Americas region alone, there have been many small and medium scale catastrophes so far this year. But while these disasters have gone unnoticed by the rest of the world, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from across the region have been there, in the communities.
The IFRC has been supportive, getting money quickly to our National Societies through our Disaster Response Reserve Fund (DREF) so they can prepare and respond effectively.
Let’s take a look at seven disasters in the Americas in the first half of 2023 that you may not have heard of, and how the IFRC network has supported those affected.
Chilean Red Cross personnel offer health care to people affected by the fires in January 2023
Photo: Chilean Red Cross
1. Chile- Fires in Viña del Mar:
In February 2023, strong winds and high temperatures sparked dozens of forest fires in central and southern Chile, causing casualties and widespread damage. These fires occurred in December 2022 and spread rapidly around the city of Viña del Mar.
With funding from the DREF, the Chilean Red Cross supported more than 5,000 people affected by the fires in the following months. Volunteer staff and teams provided medical support to communities and distributed cash so people could buy what they needed to recover.
2. Uruguay- Droughts:
Uruguay is currently suffering from a widespread drought due to the lack of rainfall since September 2022 and the temperatures, which are increasingly hot in summer. This has led the Uruguayan government to declare a state of emergency.
The government officially requested the support of the Uruguayan Red Cross to carry out a needs assessment of the drought, in order to understand how it was affecting people and agricultural industries.
With funding from the DREF, Uruguayan Red Cross teams went to the most affected areas to talk to more than 1,300 families about the impact of the drought on their health, livelihoods and access to water.
Their findings are helping the government make better-informed decisions on how to deal with the drought, taking into account the real needs of affected families.
This is the first time that DREF funding has been used to support a damage assessment of this type.
Two people from the Paraguayan Red Cross speak with a local man, in front of a flooded road in the Concepción-March 2023 sector.
Photo: Paraguayan Red Cross
3. Paraguay-Floods:
In February and March 2023, heavy rains in northern Paraguay caused severe flooding, forcing many families from their homes and paralyzing key infrastructure and industries.
The Paraguayan Red Cross responded by providing first aid and psychosocial support to people in temporary shelters. Volunteers also shared information with communities on how to protect themselves from waterborne diseases and the increase in mosquitoes.
4. Ecuador – Floods -Earthquake – Landslides:
In the first quarter of 2023, Ecuador suffered several simultaneous disasters – floods, landslides, building collapses, hailstorms and an earthquake – that put the Ecuadorian Red Cross to the test.
Volunteer staff quickly deployed, providing extensive support to the affected people: shelter, healthcare, water, sanitation and cash assistance. They also conducted surveys to find out exactly how people had been affected and what they needed most to recover.
The Argentine Red Cross accompanies the communities affected by the floods in June 2023
Photo: Argentine Red Cross
5. Argentina-Floods:
In June, heavy rains caused flash floods in the municipality of Quilmes, Buenos Aires, affecting some 4,000 families. The flooding caused power cuts, road closures and contaminated water supplies, prompting local authorities to request the support of the Argentine Red Cross.
Volunteers quickly mobilized to provide first aid and psychosocial support to people who had previously moved to the evacuation centers in the area.
In the coming weeks and months, the Argentine Red Cross – with funding from the DREF – will provide shelter, health, water, sanitation and hygienic support to 500 of the most vulnerable families affected by the floods.
6. Haiti- Floods:
Flash floods also affected Haiti in early June, following an exceptionally strong storm that swept across the country. Although not classified as a cyclone or tropical downpour, the storm affected thousands of families, claimed more than 50 lives and submerged entire homes.
The Haitian Red Cross quickly deployed rescue personnel to provide first aid and assist with evacuations. Working together with the Movement’s partners and with the support of the DREF, they have also distributed mattresses, shovels, rakes, hygiene kits, water treatment kits and plastic sheeting.
In a country already suffering from a cholera epidemic, Haitian Red Cross volunteers continue to share important information with communities on how to stay healthy and adopt good hygiene practices, especially important given the increased risk of flooding.
7. Dominican Republic- Floods:
This same rainstorm in Haiti also affected communities across the border in the Dominican Republic, causing flash flooding in the eastern part of the country.
The Dominican Red Cross has been providing humanitarian assistance in the form of search and rescue, evacuation, health and hygiene, psychological first aid and restoring family links.
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These are just a few examples of the many disasters that have hit America so far this year.
With DREF’s support, Red Cross Societies throughout the region have been able to respond rapidly to these disasters, providing effective, local humanitarian assistance directly to those in need.
If you’d like to help our network continue to respond to minor disasters like these, consider making a donation to our Disaster Response Reserve Fund today.
2023-07-13 22:26:27
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