• With 64.2 million people experiencing food insecurity in 2023, East Africa was the region in the world with the highest number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the 2024 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC), released on 24 April. In addition, 12.1 million children in East Africa were acutely malnourished, including 3 million suffering the most severe form of malnutrition.
• Given the increased levels of insecurity and conflict in the region, but also the extreme weather conditions and economic shocks, the trends for food security in East Africa are likely to deteriorate further in 2024.
• According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), in 2023 6.3 million people were in  a situation of emergency (IPC Phase 4), with Sudan being the country with the higuest number of people facing dire food shortages. 
• With 19.7 million food insecure people, Ethiopia has been repeteadly among the ten largest food crises in terms of numbers of people facing acute food insecurity according to the GRFC.

• Over 50,000 people are reportedly displaced to northern Amhara following armed clashes that have taken place in the past 10 days in the contested areas of southern Tigray, more specifically in Alamata, Raya Azebo, Zata and Ofla. 
• Some 42,000 people fled to Kobo, North Wello and 8,300 to Sekota and Wag Hamra zones.
• Most of the displaced people – the majority of whom are women, children, youth, and elderly – are still seeking refuge within the host community, while the rest are sheltering in an open area some three kilometres away from Kobo town. 
• The humanitarian situation is dire. The government and a limited number of humanitarian partners have started providing some assistance. However, the response is not commensurate to the needs of the displaced population due to a lack of resources and access.

• Since April 8, armed clashes have been taking place in Maguindanao province, between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other ISIS-inspired groups. 
• At least 13,000 people are displaced in the municipalities of Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak, Datu Salibo, Sharif Saidona Mustafa, Datu Piang, and Datu Odin Sinsuat. 
• DG ECHO partners have launched rapid needs assessments and initial relief distribution. However, access remains intermittent due to security concerns. 

• Extreme weather events occur regularly in the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region. They are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. El Niño is expected to exacerbate the risk of drought and cyclones. These natural hazards result in economic and political challenges, crop pests and diseases, and conflicts. This undermines living conditions, food security, and the livelihoods of millions of people in the region. Almost 35 million people in the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region are expected to experience, or are already experiencing, high levels of acute food insecurity in 2023-2024.  
• In 2024, the EU made an initial allocation of EUR 33.5 million to support humanitarian actions. The most vulnerable populations in Mozambique, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe are the main recipients of emergency aid.
• EU humanitarian funding in the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region provides emergency relief responses such as food assistance, protection services, access to health care, access to drinkable water, sanitation and hygiene, logistics, anticipatory action and disaster preparedness. The EU also supports actions to ensure the continuation of education in humanitarian crises. EU humanitarian funding ensures safe learning spaces and provides adequate education programmes for children in areas affected by violence and displacement.

https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/where/africa/southern-africa-and-indian-ocean_en 

• Belarus: threshold level 1/1 on the Pripyat river
• Poland: threshold level 2/2 for Obra river in Lubuskie region
• Ukraine: threshold level 2/3 on the Desna and Dnipro Rivers

• Since the cholera epidemic was declared in Comoros on 2 February 2024, the country has reported 2,319 positive cases and 55 deaths, resulting in a 2.4% case mortality rate. The recent peak occurred last week with 393 cases and 15 deaths.
• The epidemic's epicentre is currently Anjouan island and the capital Moroni, with cases reported across all three islands and in all 17 health districts. Children and adolescents account for over 40% of reported cases.
• Efforts to control the outbreak involve 19 Case Area Targeted Interventions (CATI) teams, a collaboration between UNICEF, the Ministry of Health, and the Comorian Red Crescent. However, there are reports of shortages in human resources and supplies.
• Humanitarian partners are making provisions for a scaled-up response.

• Over the past few days, the whole of Mauritius Island (particularly the Port-Louis area) has been experiencing heavy rainfall and consequent floods that have resulted in casualties and damage.
• According to media, one person died in a severe weather-related incident, two houses collapsed in Port-Louis, 645 people have been sheltered in four evacuation centres, and several roads have been flooded and closed.
• For the next 24 hours, moderate rain is expected across most parts of Mauritius.

• Heavy rainfall continues to affect Guangdong province in southern China since 20 April, causing severe floods, river overflow and severe weather-related incidents that have resulted in casualties and damage.
• As of 24 April, media report four fatalities: three people in Zhaoqing City (southeastern Guandong province) and one person in Shaoguan city (northern Guandong province). In addition, 14 people are still missing, four people due to a severe weather-related incident, and more than 110,000 have been displaced, and at least 25,800 of them have been evacuated to shelters.
• A red alert for heavy rainfall is in effect for Shenzhen city in southern Guandong province.
• According to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), over the next 72 hours, very heavy rainfall is still forecasted over the whole Guangdong province.

• Heavy rainfall has been affecting southern Sumatra Island since 16 April, causing floods that have resulted in casualties and damage.
• According to the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), as of 24 April, four people have died in North Musi Rawas Regency (South Sumatra province), of whom three in Karang Jaya district and one in Ulu Rawas district, and at least 51,812 people have been displaced due to floods. In addition, at least 454 houses, ten bridges, 34 schools and 20 health facilities have been damaged, and more than 12,570 houses have been affected.
• For the next 48 hours, more rainfall is forecasted over Sumatra Island.

• Following the heavy rainfall that has been affecting south-eastern Iran causing floods and river overflow, the number of casualties and damage is increasing.
• According to media reports, as of 23 April, ten people died due to floods, at least 3,000 people have been displaced in evacuation centres, and more than 46,000 people have been affected. In addition, more than 2,000 houses have been damaged by floods and hundreds of villages have experienced power outages across Sistan and Baluchistan Province.
• Over the next 24 hours, more rainfall and thunderstorms are forecasted over the southern part of Iran.