Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 29 November 2024

KEY FIGURES

21K children displaced since 11 November in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

215K people affected by heavy rains in Chocó, Colombia

$78.3M needed to address the needs of 930,000 people in Cuba

HAITI: CHILD PROTECTION

Children in Haiti continue to face increasing violations of their rights. Of the nearly 41,000 people displaced in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area since 11 November, Save the Children estimates 21,000 were children. Across the country, nearly one in 10 children have been forcibly displaced, many multiple times in the past two years. Simultaneously, child recruitment has seen a stark rise, with children under age 18 now making up an estimated third to half of all armed group members. Recent trends around sexual violence against children, especially girls, are particularly alarming, with UN figures indicating a 1000 per cent increase in cases in 2024 compared to 2023. Humanitarian partners are providing essential support where possible, including psychosocial and mental health support to displaced children, but efforts are increasingly hindered by insecurity. UNICEF and partners are calling for urgent action to protect children, release those recruited, and ensure humanitarian access.

Ecuador: WILDFIRES

Wildfires in Ecuador have now burned over 80,000 hectares of vegetation in 2024, with November accounting for more than a third of burned vegetation and a fifth of all fires. Across the country, the fires directly affected at least 1,594 people, with 6 fatalities and 251 people left without homes. As of 28 November, there are no active fires but five controlled fires remain and are under close monitoring to prevent reactivation. Authorities are urging preventive measures to protect natural resources and ensure community safety, with concerns around long term food security and access to water growing. The active year of wildfires, amid ongoing drought and high temperatures, in Ecuador and surrounding countries in South America highlights a concerning trend of environmental crises across the region.

CUBA: PLAN OF ACTION

In just 20 days, Cuba was struck by two hurricanes and two powerful earthquakes, amidst an ongoing energy crisis, which caused a nationwide power outage just two days before the first hurricane made landfall. The series of disasters affected more than 1.4 million people across the country, with severe impacts on agriculture, public health, water supply, and sanitation. Over 37,000 hectares of crops were destroyed, including critical food sources, and widespread damage to schools, health facilities, and homes has left communities vulnerable. In response, the UN system in Cuba has released an expanded Plan of Action seeking US $78.3 million to support recovery efforts and address urgents needs, including food, water, shelter and health services, among others, for nearly 930,000 people.

COLOMBIA: FLOODING

The impact of the rainy season in Chocó, a department in the Pacific region, continues to rise, affecting nearly 215,000 people. The most affected municipalities include Alto Baudó, Bojayá, Litoral del San Juan, Medio Baudó, Nóvita and Riosucio. The severe weather has destroyed 17,000 hectares of crops and caused the loss of 23,000 animals, severely compromising food security. Flooding has damaged more than 2,100 houses and destroyed more than 300, leaving nearly 3,600 families without access to public services. Overcrowding in relatives’ homes and inadequate waste management have increased the risk of tropical and infectious diseases, as well as incidents of violence, including sexual assault. Educational disruptions have impacted more than 47,000 students across 74 educational centres. Humanitarian efforts are ongoing in 27 municipalities, but the situation remains critical.