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This report is produced by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), in collaboration with humanitarian partners.
KEY POINTS
Authorities continue to respond to the effects of seasonal rains in northern Central America and parts of Mexico, areas that faced particularly severe weather the previous week.
Tropical Storm Alberto struck Mexico's north- eastern coast on 20 June, bringing heavy rains, coastal flooding, and gusty winds, marking the start of an expected intense 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season influenced by La Niña.
In El Salvador, intense rains caused 19 deaths, significant housing damage and numerous evacuations. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) is actively coordinating with local authorities to address identified needs.
In Guatemala and Honduras, the rainy season has led to moderate damage, evacuations and Government assistance. UN offices in each country are closely monitoring the situation and are in touch with their respective Civil Protection authorities.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Authorities continue to respond to the effects of seasonal rains in northern Central America and parts of Mexico, who experienced particularly severe weather the previous week. In Mexico, this was related to the formation and subsequent 20 June landfall of Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm in what is projected to be an exceptionally intense 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season amid the expected effects of the La Niña weather phenomenon for the remainder of the year.
MEXICO
Tropical Storm Alberto struck the north-eastern coast of Mexico on 20 June, bringing heavy rains, coastal flooding and gusty winds. The storm claimed four lives in northern Mexico before weakening to a depression. The National Guard, along with Civil Protection authorities, are providing emergency assistance in the states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. In urban and rural areas of Nuevo León, including San Pedro, Monterrey and other municipalities, the National Guard has been evacuating residents and clearing water and mud from homes.
A task force of more than 11,600 Army, Navy and National Guard members has deployed, along with federal, state and municipal office personnel, to affected states and those with coastlines on the Gulf of Mexico. This deployment comes ahead of the US National Hurricane Center's (NHC) forecast for 27 June, which warns of a possible tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea that could develop into another storm that could track over south-eastern Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
The heavy rains from Alberto marked the start of Mexico's rainy and tropical storm season, providing much-needed relief to a country suffering from a severe water crisis in recent months. The National Water Commission (CONAGUA) reported significant increases in reservoir levels across various states.
GUATEMALA
Rains have decreased in Guatemala compared to the previous week, but the rainy season, running from May to October, has already caused significant damage. There have been 813 incidents, leading to the evacuation of 14,400 people, 10 deaths and more than 6,195 homes damaged, according to the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED). Currently, 13 shelters across various departments are housing 400 people.
CONRED is actively responding to the needs arising from these incidents. Their actions include damage assessment, emergency response coordination and distribution of humanitarian aid, including non-food items like mattresses, blankets, kitchen kits, hygiene supplies and water purification items, as well as food rations. OCHA and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office continue to monitor developments and are in contact with CONRED.
EL SALVADOR
El Salvador experienced continuous and intense rains from 14 to 22 June, reaching 800 mm of rainfall. This led the Directorate General of Civil Protection to issue a national orange alert, which has since been downgraded to green. By 25 June, 26 active shelters were housing 645 people, while 107 shelters had closed, allowing 3,926 people to return home. The country remains under a national state emergency, set to end on 1 July.
The rains resulted in 19 deaths, significant housing damage and numerous evacuations. Civil Protection is currently evaluating damage and needs, with HCT members conducting assessments in areas where they are currently active. The HCT is coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Salvadoran Agency for International Cooperation (ESCO) to address identified needs and manage the distribution of supplies.
HONDURAS
The June to November rainy season has so far affected 9,200 people, left 3,990 homeless and resulted in 1,200 evacuations. The rains have caused three deaths, damaged 366 homes and destroyed 30 homes as well. Authorities are working to reach 61 communities cut off by the rains, with five departments along the western borders currently under red alert.
The previous week’s intense rains led to the opening of eight shelters, initially hosting 1,480 people, but now reduced to 64 people in one shelter in the Francisco Morazán department. The Ministry of Risk and Contingency Management (COPECO) has assisted 4,300 people with food rations, blankets, mattresses and cleaning, hygiene and baby kits. OCHA and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office are monitoring developments and liaising with COPECO.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.
