What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, July 28

Wildfires – Sardinia, Sicily: On July 27, a large wildfire suddenly ignited on the island of Sardinia. Hundreds of beachgoers were evacuated by boat when the fire blocked all other escape routes. Strong winds hindered rescue efforts, and several cars were burned. 

In Sicily, wildfires destroyed several houses, buildings and other infrastructure last week, and at least 30 homes were evacuated. Drought, extreme heat and high winds are driving wildfires in southern Europe.

Wildfires – Greece, Turkey: On July 23, wildfires killed 10 firefighters and rescue workers near Bursa, Turkey. At least 14 others were hospitalized for injuries. Temperatures in Silopi reached 122 degrees Fahrenheit on July 26 as the blazes continued to burn. It was unclear what caused the wildfires, but extreme heat and volatile wind conditions made containment efforts difficult.

In Greece, temperatures reached 108 degrees Fahrenheit as firefighters battled several major wildfires across the country. Several villages received evacuation orders while other residents were forced to flee. Wildfires caused power outages, burned properties and destroyed forest areas.

Flooding – Romania: Torrential downpours and high winds caused severe flash flooding in eastern Romania overnight on Monday, July 28. Three people died, hundreds were evacuated, and thousands of homes were damaged. Cars and houses were swept away, and bridges collapsed. Winds tore the roofs off homes and uprooted trees.

Extreme Heat – Iraq: Various provinces in Iraq have announced work suspensions or reduced working hours amid an extreme heat wave, causing temperatures to rise to 125 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas. Just 30 minutes of exposure to that heat risks heat stroke, and increasing humidity shortens that time.

Drought – Eastern and Southern Africa: Historic drought conditions have caused a hunger, energy and economic crisis for 90 million people across Eastern and Southern Africa. Experts describe this catastrophe as “…one of the most destructive and far-reaching drought events in human history.”

Aside from a precipitous drop in agricultural output over the past two years, the drought has sharply curtailed energy output. In Zambia, the Zambezi River fell to just 20 percent of its long-term average in April, pushing the country’s largest hydroelectric plant to only 7 percent of its generation capacity. The UN report said the resulting 21-hour daily blackouts forced the closure of hospitals, bakeries and factories.

When a country experiences political conflict, climate shocks, famine, economic challenges or other conditions, it may suffer a complex humanitarian emergency (CHE). CDP maintains complete profiles on several CHEs. Every week, we highlight these and other CHEs hoping to build awareness and philanthropic response.

Migration in the Americas is characterized by mass displacement driven by violence, economic collapse, food insecurity, political instability, and increasingly restrictive migration and asylum policies. Migrants face a unique set of dangers on their journeys and increasing hostility at their destinations.

Key facts:

• Millions of people flee countries in Central America’s Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras), as well as Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua and Cuba. These regions have some of the highest homicide and femicide rates in the world.
• Migration flows in Latin America also include people from Africa, Asia and the Middle East transiting through the region.
• Many migrants and asylum seekers are now denied international protection at the US-Mexico border, forcibly returned to unsafe countries, or left vulnerable to exploitation, violence and abuse.
• Harsh rhetoric, criminalization of migration, aid cuts, and the closure of shelters and frontline organizations have meant less access to food, shelter, legal and psychosocial support.
• Countries like Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama are overwhelmed, their social and humanitarian infrastructure stretched to the limit. Some reception centers have turned into detention sites due to surges of migrants and forced transfers.
• Migrants face frequent kidnapping, extortion, violence—including gender-based violence—and discrimination, especially as they cross dangerous routes like the Darién Gap or while trapped at border regions.

The most at-risk groups—women, children, Indigenous, Afro-descendant and LGBTQ+ people—face the greatest danger. Advocacy groups and international organizations continue to urge regional governments to restore protection pathways, respect human rights and expand humanitarian aid. Seeking safety is a human right.

What We’re Reading