Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 16 January 2026

KEY FIGURES

• 5.8K people displaced in Port-au-Prince, Haiti as violence escalates
• 423 people remain in shelters in Jamaica more than 2 months post-Melissa
• 100K people displaced since January 2025 in Catatumbo, Colombia

SOUTH AMERICA: WILDFIRES

Wildfires have intensified across Chile and Argentina in early January 2026, driven by severe drought, high temperatures, and strong winds, with Chile reporting 3,839 hectares burned, at least 2 deaths, 10 injuries, and over 2,100 people displaced across multiple central and southern regions including Biobío, Maule, Araucanía, and Valparaíso. Meanwhile, Argentina’s Patagonia is experiencing an extensive emergency, with more than 50,000 hectares burned, mass evacuations of more than 3,000 people, destruction of homes and rural infrastructure, and active fires threatening protected areas such as Los Alerces National Park - home to rare alerce forests. Authorities in both countries warn that historic drought conditions and extreme heat are likely to sustain dangerous fire behavior, while stretched response capacities, particularly in Argentina, where firefighting budgets have seen deep cuts, are complicating containment efforts.

JAMAICA: HURRICANE MELISSA

More than 2 months since Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, the country continues to face a challenging recovery marked by widespread infrastructure damage, lingering displacement and public health risks. Damage assessments highlight urgent needs for food, safe water, childcare support and building materials. As of 12 January, authorities report 423 people taking refuge in 56 shelters, including 15 schools. Public health concerns remain significant, with 105 suspected and 35 confirmed leptospirosis cases and 14 suspected associated deaths. Despite improving market conditions, food security remains strained in several rural western and northern parishes, where many households are relying on more severe coping strategies. While progress is visible, Jamaica’s recovery remains uneven, and sustained support will be critical in the months ahead.

COLOMBIA: ARMED VIOLENCE

One year after violence sharply intensified in Catatumbo, the region remains engulfed in a deepening humanitarian crisis. Ongoing clashes between non‑state armed groups have killed more than 60 people in the past week and continue to affect thousands of civilians, restricting mobility, limiting access to essential services, and driving both displacement and confinement. Since the conflict escalated in January 2025, an estimated 100,000 people have been displaced across the region. Families report living in constant fear amid explosive hazards, targeted violence and coercive restrictions, while damage to infrastructure has deepened hunger and deprived many children of schooling. With humanitarian needs rising and funding far below required levels, communities are being pushed toward increasingly risky coping strategies, further entrenching vulnerability and prolonging the cycle of violence.

HAITI: VIOLENCE & DISPLACEMENT

Armed violence in Haiti continues to drive displacement. Between 8-9 January, attacks in Port-au-Prince forced the displacement of approximately 5,836 people (1,635 households). The vast majority (86 per cent) have sought refuge with host families, while the remaining relocated to two pre‑existing displacement sites that were already hosting internally displaced persons prior to these events. These attacks add to a deteriorating security environment marked by escalating violence, shrinking humanitarian access and severe pressure on health services. In the Bel Air neighbourhood in Port-au-Prince, intensifying clashes forced Médecins Sans Frontières to suspend activities. Only 40 per cent of medical facilities in the capital remain functioning.