HADR Institute Global Disaster Snapshot - Edition 021

Welcome to this new edition of the HADRI GDS (020), 21 - 27 August 2023.

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This report includes analyses on:

1️⃣ Greece | Emergency services struggle to contain wildfires, ongoing.

2️⃣ Sudan | Conflict intensifies in Khartoum, ongoing.

3️⃣ Somaliland | Health security risk as medical aid in Los Anod ends, 23rd August.

4️⃣ Sri Lanka | Severe drought, 24th August.

1. Greece | Wildfires continue to burn (Ongoing, August 23)

Wildfires have been raging across Greece for the past week, with as many as 60 wildfires erupting in a span of 24 hours. The fires began on the 19th of August, fuelled by a mix of gale-force winds and temperatures of up to 41 degrees Celsius. These fires are Greece's second major fires in a month. 79 people have been arrested for arson and the current death toll is believed to be as high as 30. Many fires still remain uncontained with some authorities claiming that Greece’s wildfires are setting records for the European Union.

2. Sudan | Conflict continues in Khartoum (Ongoing, August 23)

Conflict continues in Sudan with the fighting remaining heaviest in the city of Khartoum. Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a multi-fronted attack on the 20 August against a primary military building of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) known as the Armoured Corp. If the SAF lose this compound to the RSF then the Military Headquarters stationed in central Khartoum will be the group’s only remaining primary military compound. The conflict in Sudan has resulted in the displacement of nearly of 2.3 million people according to UN Refugees statistics, titling it the largest refugee crisis in Africa.

3. Somaliland | Medical aid in Los Anod to end (23rd August 23)

Increased volatility and repeated security incidents around Las Anod General Hospital, Somaliland, has caused Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to announce this week that it will end its donations to the region. MSF removed medical staff from the area earlier in July this year.

It has been 8 months of conflict between the state of Somaliland and local Dhulbahante militias and hospitals in the besieged city are desperately trying to maintain their critical medical supplies, with administrators raising concern over their capacity to treat casualties. Ongoing fighting has caused critical health services such as the General hospital’s blood bank and maternity ward to be no longer functional.

4. Sri Lanka | Severe drought (24th August 23)

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a prolonged rain-free period resulting in drought across much of the nation. Several districts have had three to four-week periods of extended dry weather, with the northern and eastern provinces being the worst affected. The drought has begun to affect the nations water supply, as reports indicate that the water levels in various reservoirs are reducing rapidly. The dryer weather and rain-free periods have meant an increase in evaporation, threatening already scarce water storage, affected approx. 250, 000 people.

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