Current Emergencies

Tropical Cylone Mahasen- Bangladesh/Myanmar

Coastal communities prepare for Cylcone Mahasen forecast to hit Bangladesh/Myanmar this Thursday. OCHA (IRIN/Brendan Brady).

Current news

May 20 - Myanmar, Bangladesh and India have avoided a potential catastrophe as Cyclone Mahasen weakened to a tropical storm as it made landfall in Bangladesh on Thursday.But fears remain that some remote areas may have experienced some destruction.Relief Web

May 16 - Cyclone alert level downgraded to "orange". Mass evacuations are taking place (The Telegraph). IDP's in vulnerable coastal areas at risk (Alertnet).

May 14 - Red storm level alert (OCHA). A boat carrying 100 Rohingya Muslims capsizes off Myanmar, 7 dead. Alertnet

The Republic of Marshall Islands Drought May 2013

A severe drought affecting its northern Marshall Islands OCHA

Last week a state of national disaster was declared in the country. Thousands face acute water shortage as the drought worsens.

Current news

20 May - As the drought in the Marshall Islands worsens, Asia-Pacific government, business and development leaders will meet later this week in Thailand to discuss challenges and opportunities to resolve the region’s water issues.Devex

14 May - The New Zealand Red Cross assessments indicate up to 5000 people are severely affected by the drought and a further 11,000 people are affected by crop loss.Some people are surving on 1 litre of water a day. Radio NZ

13 May - United Nations disaster assessment team has arrived in the Marshall Islands to help the Government respond to a severe drought affecting its northern islands. Scoop

9 May - Situation Report 2 issued. Assessments are on-going, however, water tanks are empty and wells are unsafe for drinking.OCHA Situation Report 2

7 May - The Republic of the Marshalls Islands (RMI) Cabinet issued an elevated state of disaster on 7 May as the prolonged and severe drought in the northern parts of the country worsens.

1 May - Situation report 1 issued. An initial assessment of the impact of the drought is underway through the mobilization of three multi-disciplinary teams, led by the National Disaster Management Office and supported by experts from OFDA/USAID and International Organization for Migration (IOM). OCHA Situation Report 1

PNG Floods April 2013

Flooding along PNG's Sepik river  ABC News

Intense rain and rising water levels since the rainy season late 2012 are reaching crisis levels in April/May.

Current news

7 May - Seven people have been confirmed dead and about 11,500 people have been affected by flooding along the Sepik River. Reliefweb

25 March - Food supplies are dwindling for more than 5000 villagers in Central Bougainville as a result of continuous heavy rain. Reliefweb

Iran/Pakistan Earthquakes April 2013

The quake reduced homes to rubble.  Sky News

Following the 6.3 earthuake on 9 April in Bushehr, Iran which killed 35 people and injured 800, a 7.8 earthquake hit in Baluchestan on 16 April. Initial media reports suggest 34 have died in Pakistan with 80 injured in Mashkail.  1000 houses have collapsed in Washuk.  There are no official reports of death in Iran.

Current news

19 April - More than 12,000 Pakistanis living in a remote, impoverished southwestern desert region near the Iranian border have been affected by this week's huge earthquake, a relief official said Thursday. ReliefWeb

18 April - United Nations officials in Iran and Pakistan today reiterated Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s promise of assistance, if needed, to both countries following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck their border on 16 April. UN News

17 April - The Deputy Head of Iran's Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has declared the state of emergency in the quake-hit region of the Province. ReliefWeb

17 April -  The earthquake on Tuesday, measured at 7.8 magnitude and described as the strongest to hit Iran in more than half a century, shook buildings from the Gulf to South Asia. Aljazeera

12 April - Rescue operations have been terminated and the response now focusing on provision of relief and temporary settlement. UNOCHA

12 April - Iran says quake relief efforts stepped up.  Aljazeera