HADR Institute Global Disaster Snapshot - Edition 019

Welcome to this new edition of the HADRI GDS (019), 07 - 13 August 2023.

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This report includes analyses on:

1️⃣ Slovenia | Heavy rains and flooding destroy infrastructure, 7th August.

2️⃣ Hawaii | Fires tear across the islands, Maui critically impacted, 8th August.

3️⃣ Mediterranean | Migrant boat capsizes off the shore of Tunisia, 8th August.

4️⃣ Niger | Aid restricted as military coup standoff continues - 10th August.

5️⃣ South Korea | Tropical Cyclone Khanun prompts government to issue ‘severe’ crisis warning - 9th August.

1. Slovenia | Heavy rain and flooding (7th August 23)

Over the past week, Slovenia has faced devastating floods and adverse weather conditions. Prime Minister Robert Golob described it as the worst disaster on record for the nation. Authorities reported that as of Sunday, 6 August, two thirds of the country have been affected by the most severe floods in its recent history, leading to the collapse of 7 regional bridges, damages to hundreds of homes and buildings, and power cuts to tens of thousands of Slovenians. The road and energy infrastructure has been particularly impacted by the extreme rainfall.

2. Hawaii | Fires burn across Hawaiian islands (8th August 23)

On 8 August 2023, the Hawaiian Islands were ravaged by wildfires, with the West Maui town of Lahaina facing significant damage. These destructive fires have necessitated the evacuation of thousands of residents and tourists. As of 13 August, the death toll stands at 89, with hundreds more people unaccounted for. With ongoing search and rescue operations, this count might increase. The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) reported that by 11 August 2023, the Lahaina Fire had damaged or destroyed 2,207 structures over an area of 2,170 acres. Notably, 86% of these affected buildings were residential.

3. Mediterranean | Migrant lives lost as boat capsizes (8th August 23)

Four survivors, including two men, a woman, and an unaccompanied 13-year-old boy, were rescued by a Maltese-flagged carrier in the Straits of Sicily. These survivors reportedly belonged to a ship that capsized off Tunisia's coast. Allegedly, the boat left from Sfax the previous Thursday and faced disaster within hours of its departure.

Data from the Italian Interior Ministry suggests that this year alone, upwards of 93,000 individuals might have reached Italy via the Mediterranean. However, an estimated 2,000 of these people are presumed dead or missing. The IOM warns that the real casualty figures could be even greater, given the potential number of unreported shipwrecks.

4. Niger | Aid to Niger restricted as coup crisis continues (9th August 23)

Niger is experiencing political instability after a military junta reportedly overthrew the democratically elected government within the last two weeks. This event has led to the suspension of financial aid from prominent donors, including the European Union, France, and Germany. Concurrently, while the U.S. has halted specific types of aid, it continues to offer humanitarian and food assistance to Niger.

Niger's economy heavily depends on foreign aid, accounting for approximately 40% of its national budget. With the recent cessation of support, humanitarian groups have highlighted potential repercussions for the estimated 4.4 million individuals currently in need of assistance.

5. South Korea | Government upgrades crisis warning to ‘severe’ (10th August 23)

On 10 August, after crossing Goto Island in southern Japan, Tropical Cyclone Khanun made a significant landfall on South Korea’s central coast. A trajectory shift brought Khanun closer to the Korean Peninsula than expected, prompting a swift response from the Korean government. On 8 August 2023, they elevated the crisis warning from ‘alert’ to its highest level, 'severe'.

Given the cyclone's severity, temporary population displacement from the most affected areas is highly probable. There's also a possibility of longer- term displacement in residential areas, especially if infrastructure suffers extensive damage.

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🤝 HADRI and the Australian Crisis Simulation Summit

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Through this partnership, the HADR institute is providing expert advice across traditional and non-traditional security considerations to advance the simulation of a national crisis response in both domestic and international settings. We’re proud to be part of empowering the next generation of leaders to create innovative solutions to make the world a better place.

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