Related Polices
Case1 - Madagascar
Context: Largely agrarian population highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Problem: Drought in the south, and flooding in the north and east, have caused food insecurity. Relevant CRS programs: • USAID‑funded Title II development project ($38 million 2014‑2019) • OFDA‑funded project ($785,000 2015‑2016) • EU‑funded development project ($1.8 million 2014‑2017) • CRS‑funded food distribution ($100,000 February 2016) Madagascar, an island country, is highly vulnerable to natural disasters including cyclones, droughts and floods. More than three‑quarters of families earn a living from agriculture,28 while the malnutrition rate is one of the worst globally.29 Drought caused by El Niño in the south has caused an early lean season exacerbated by early exhaustion of food stocks, reduced coping capacity from the previous lean season and unusually high staple food prices. With conditions worsening, U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar Robert Yamate, hosted by CRS, visited the emergency situation in the south. CRS is undertaking a rapid assessment in coordination with other actors to inform how beneficiaries have used seeds from past fairs, how the food security situation has worsened and to monitor communities’ access to food/water in the immediate future. CRS is employing a multi‑donor coordinated response to the drought situation in the south with contributions from the Gates Foundation, the European Union, USAID and CRS private funds. |
(an image from https://www.euractiv.com/section/development-policy/news/el-nino-plunges-southern-madagascar-into-famine/)
El Niño plunges southern Madagascar into famine |
Case2 - Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru
While El Niño has not caused the extreme weather expected in this region, increased rainfall in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru has caused a number of flash floods, resulting in deadly mudslides. Temperatures have also risen above normal. The Government of Peru declared a state of emergency in 14 provinces in July 2015. In November, the Ecuadorian National Government declared a state of emergency for 17 provinces that faced floods which had destroyed houses and displaced many people. El Niño is having an impact on the agricultural sector, particularly in Peru. The regions affected are also key fishing and mining areas, which have also been impacted by El Niño. CRS and its local partners are meeting the basic needs of those affected, through market‑based responses, including cash and voucher programs to address food, water and sanitation needs. Specifically in Beni, Bolivia, and in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, CRS is helping communities to develop preparedness plans to enable displaced families, refugees and host families to rapidly mobilize to safe zones in the event of major weather events, such as flooding and landslides. We are also engaged in training CRS and partner staff in pre‑crisis market analysis of water and sanitation supplies, food and household items. Should El Niño’s impacts in the area become more extreme, we will be prepared to utilize market‑based responses. Problem: Flooding, but not (to date) to the extent expected. Relevant CRS programs: • ECHO‑funded resilience project in Bolivia ($110,000 2015‑2016) • CRS‑funded WASH project in Bolivia ($4.6 million 2009‑2016) • Buffett‑funded agriculture project in Ecuador ($2.5 million 2011‑2016) |
(an image from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2624521/Are-prepared-El-Ni-o-Forecasters-accused-conservative-despite-dramatic-spike-sea-temperatures.html)
Peru's flooding by El Niño |
Case3 US Urgent Action & Long-Term Action
Urgent Action While Catholic Relief Services and its partners assess, prepare for and respond to the impacts of El Niño, we call on the U.S. government to take these urgent steps:
Long Tern Action In addition, we urge the U.S. government to take the following steps over the long-term to reduce the likelihood of, and prepare for, future extreme weather events:
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(an image from http://www.turnto23.com/storm-shield/storm-shield-featured/this-el-nio-could-end-californias-drought)
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