What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, August 17, 2026
Some disasters make headlines; others do not. Here at the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), we monitor the status of disasters worldwide and compile a list of the ones we’re tracking weekly.
Here’s what we’re watching for the week of Aug. 17, 2026.
New or Emerging Disasters
Derecho – Multiple states: On Aug. 6, a long line of powerful storms stretching from the Northern Plains to the Ohio Valley produced heavy rain, flooding and tornadoes as it moved east. Wind speeds reached nearly 100 mph in Gary, Indiana, and left nearly 1 million people without power.
Across several states, hundreds of homes were damaged, four people died and crops were destroyed. A lightning bolt struck a state prison in Ohio, injuring several inmates who required hospitalization.
Heavy rain – Japan: Record-breaking rainfall struck areas east of Tokyo on Aug. 13, killing at least five people, injuring 30 people and stranding thousands. At least two people remain missing. Hundreds of people took shelter at the government building in Chiba, and thousands of others were stuck overnight at Narita airport. Chiba recorded 14 inches of rain in just 24 hours.
Tropical Storm Lala – Hawaii: The Category 1 hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday, Aug. 16, as it moved past Hawaii, causing severe flooding and power outages for more than 100,000 households. At least 100 houses were damaged in the storm.
Earthquake – Indonesia: A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Flores on Saturday, Aug. 15, killing at least 53 people and displacing 5,000 people. About 1,000 aftershocks have been recorded so far. More than 1,000 homes have been damaged, along with schools and health facilities.
Reports of starvation are increasing amid an aid shortage, and there is little government guidance on where to shelter. As of Sunday evening, no medical assistance had arrived to the island.
Previous/Ongoing Disasters
Earthquake – Colombia: Colombia was struck by a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake on the morning of Monday, Aug. 10, severely affecting the cities of Cali, Pereira and Manizales. So far, at least 294 people have died, with about 4,000 people injured and 320 still missing.
Many people have also been displaced, with approximately 8,300 homes reportedly damaged. Additionally, hundreds of homes, schools and health care facilities have collapsed.
Complex Humanitarian Emergencies – Horn of Africa (Ethiopia)
Many places worldwide are experiencing conflict, climate change, drought, famine, economic challenges and other conditions which, when combined, create complex humanitarian emergencies (CHEs). CDP spotlights one CHE each week to spread awareness and develop a philanthropic response.
Ethiopia’s crisis is driven by overlapping political conflict, climate shocks and disease outbreaks. The conflict involving Fano armed groups and the Ethiopian federal government has entered its third year alongside unresolved fallout from the 2020–2022 Tigray war. Civilians face displacement, drone strikes on populated areas, gender-based violence, and severe disruptions to health, education and food systems, while a government-imposed state of emergency and media restrictions in Amhara limit independent reporting and humanitarian access.
Key facts:
- At least 21.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 15.8 million requiring food aid, according to the last official figure available from 2024.
- The Amhara Association of America documented civilian casualties across more than 64 woredas (districts) in a single week in June 2026 alone, with drone strikes recorded in North Shewa, North Gojjam and South Gonder zones amid ongoing ENDF–Fano clashes.
- Ethiopian rights monitors have tracked roughly 70 drone strikes causing civilian casualties in Amhara since fighting escalated, with strikes repeatedly hitting markets, health facilities and residential areas.
- In Tigray, an estimated 2.3 million children remain in need of humanitarian assistance.
- Roughly one million people remain internally displaced in dire conditions, with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence still requiring mental health and protection services.
- Funding shortfalls have forced World Food Program (WFP) to reduce rations for most of Ethiopia’s refugee population to 60% of minimum caloric needs, with insecurity in Amhara and Oromia continuing to impede delivery of assistance.
- Human Rights Watch documented an intensified government crackdown on civil society and independent media ahead of the 2026 elections, alongside the detention of health care workers striking over pay and conditions.
Overall, many humanitarian agencies (OCHA, UNICEF, WFP, FEWS NET) describe Ethiopia as one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian operations, with the UN reporting that conflict, climate shocks and disease outbreaks continue to erode a decade of development gains, even as international funding for the response has declined sharply from 2025 levels.
What We’re Reading
- What America Owes to Afghan Women – The New York Times
- As $43 million for Southwest flood relief remains unspent, residents who can’t afford to fix their homes wait for help – Cardinal News
- How Lahaina is recovering 3 years after the devastating fires – PBS News
A moment of hope… Ethiopia has inaugurated a new Fetal Diagnostic and Intervention Center at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, marking a major advance in maternal and fetal health care. The center is expected to improve maternal and infant health by strengthening prenatal monitoring.
Early diagnosis and intervention can reduce complications during pregnancy and childbirth, helping to lower maternal and infant mortality and prevent long-term health problems for newborns. The center will also expand prenatal and perinatal services, train specialists and create referral networks so women and infants can receive higher quality care across Ethiopia.