Summary
For additional context, see Countries in Crisis 2023.
Regions
Central Europe
“Record-breaking storm continues to batter central and eastern Europe” — Storm Boris is lashing large parts central and eastern Europe. Torrential rains, high winds and flooding have killed people in Romania, Poland and Austria. Thousands more have been forced to flee as water levels rise – washing away homes and livestock. Authorities in the Czech Republic say four people are missing. Forecasters warn the worst may be yet to come. 15 Sep 2025 [Source]
“Central Europe in grips of worst flooding in decades” — Flood alerts are in place in many parts of Central Europe, in the wake of torrential rainfall that has caused many of the region’s rivers to swell dramatically. Among the worst affected areas are Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland. With rain continuing to fall and floodwaters moving downstream, forecasters warn the worst may be yet to come. 15 Sep 2024 [Source]
Powerful Storms Across Asia
“Super Typhoon Yagi wreaks havoc across Asia” — The clean-up is underway in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yagi, which struck several Asian countries as the most powerful storm of the year, and one of the strongest in decades. Yagi has now weakened, after killing more than a dozen people as its passed through China and the Philippines. The storm also struck Vietnam, where it caused flooding, sunk boats and destroyed buildings. Yagi has now been downgraded to a tropical depression, but officials are still warning of the danger of landslides and flash flooding in some areas. 8 Sep 2024 [Source]
“Several dead, tens of thousands evacuated as the most powerful storm in decades hits Asia” — Super Typhoon Yagi is battering Vietnam. Winds of up to 160 kilometers per hour have uprooted trees, swept boats out to sea, cut power supplies and damaged buildings. 7 Sep 2024 [Source]
Global Flooding
“Climate crisis: October sees record floods and rains across the globe” — In addition to Taiwan and Spain, floods and rains have wreaked havoc across the globe in recent days. 31 Oct 2024 [Source]
Northern Hemisphere
As a region, the northern hemisphere countries are impacted by flooding, drought, and high heat. The report below from 6 Sep 2024 explains.
“Why summer 2024 was hottest on record in northern hemisphere” — New data is confirming what many people have been feeling for months now. The EU’s climate monitor says summer 2024 has been the hottest on record in the northern hemisphere. Climate experts say the string of record temperatures shows just how urgent it is to reduce emissions– and prevent future summers from becoming even hotter. [Source: DW News]
Countries
Entries are by country in alphabetical order with a leading story, source, date, and description provided.
For last year’s report see Countries in Crisis 2023.
Afghanistan
Below are two video news reports about Afghanistan. For more news and updates, see Afghanistan Report 2024.
The video below from Deutsche Welle on 15 Aug 2024 reports on the current state of women’s rights in Afghanistan.
“This is what’s left of women’s lives in Afghanistan” — Three years after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, women and girls have been stripped of their basic rights and relegated to the fringes of society. Marie Sina of DW Business speaks with Nargis Nehan, Afghanistan’s former Acting Minister for Mines and Petroleum and currently a women’s rights advocate, about the daily reality of women in the country. Date: 15 Aug 2024 [Source]
“Three years of Taliban rule: Afghanistan’s economy continues to face challenges” — While the overall security situation has improved – international assistance to Afghanistan has reduced significantly. Without immediate support from the international community, Afghanistan is at risk of becoming a forgotten crisis. Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid reports on the changes since the group came to power. 15 Aug 2024 [Source]
Bangladesh
The video below from 13 Aug 2024 offers a recent update from Bangladesh. Learn more by reading the Bangladesh Report 2024.
Burkina Faso
“Burkina Faso village devastated as armed group kills more than 200 people” — n Burkina Faso, more than 200 people have been killed in a devastating attack by fighters on a village in the town of Barsalogho. While the military claims the victims were digging trenches to defend their village, reports from residents reveal that most of those killed were civilians. A local Al Qaeda affiliate has claimed responsibility for the massacre. The attack highlights the worsening security situation in the region. 27 Aug 2024 [Source]
Chad
“Chad floods: Heavy rains force Ndjamena residents to flee homes” — Thousands of people across Chad have been forced to flee heavy flooding since July. In the worst hit regions in the north – at least 54 people have died. Farther south in the capital – displaced people have been forced into shelters. 20 Aug 2024 [Source]
Canada
“Canada rail shutdown: Federal govt intervenes to avert economic catastrophe” — Canada’s government has stepped in, to stop an unprecedented rail shutown less than a day after it began. It’s ordered the country’s top two rail companies to get trains moving again and to start talking to unions, to settle arguments about work schedules and safety. Almost 80 percent of the country’s rail network had been shut down, threatening to cause serious damage to the economy. Al Jazeera’s Behdad Mahichi reports. 23 Aug 2024 [Source]
Ethiopia
“Southern Ethiopia flooding: Efforts to save town after river Omo bursts banks” — In southern Ethiopia, government workers in Omorate are digging trenches to protect the town from flooding caused by the Omo River, which recently burst its banks. Thousands have been displaced in the Omo Valley, and residents are concerned about the rising waters. Farmers in the region are trying to salvage crops before the flood destroys them. Internally displaced people are being relocated to shelters with basic necessities, though many children arrive malnourished. The area is also recovering from a landslide in the Gofa region last month that killed over 200 people. The flooding exacerbates the crisis following a recent drought. Date: 25 Aug 2024 [Source]
Greece
“Masses of dead fish blanket Greek port after flooding” — Hundreds of thousands of dead fish have washed up on the shores of Pagasitikos Gulf in Greece over the last few days. As you’re about to see, the stretch of water with fish carcasses spans kilometers. According to experts, some freshwater fish do die here when currents pull them from nearby lakes into the Gulf’s salty water. Local residents say the stench is alarming. They fear it could impact their businesses that rely heavily on tourists. Local authorities have already cleaned up 40 tonnes of dead fish and are now investigating what caused them to die in such large numbers. 28 Aug 2024 [Source]
“Thousands evacuated in Greece as wildfires approach Athens” — Thousands of residents are being evacuated from their homes as a large wildfire is spreading towards Athens in Greece, with some flames leaping as high as 25m (80ft). 12 Aug 2024 [Source]
Israel
Several pro-Palestinian militant groups have taken up residence in the north, east, and south of Israel. For the past 10 months, attacks by these groups on Israel have increased.
The pro-Palestinian militant groups are of the opinion that Israel is a militant group that began to occupy Palestine by force in 1948.
There is a third group that consists of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people who claim they have been in the Palestinian land long before the establishment of the state of Israel. They assert that they were living peacefully with Muslims and Arab Christians in Palestine.
Learn more by reading the Israel War Report 2024.
Japan
“Japan’s typhoon Shanshan downgraded: At least five killed, evacuation notices issued” — In Japan, a severe tropical storm is disrupting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Downgraded from Typhoon Shanshan that made landfall onThursday, it’s killed at least five people and injured hundreds. The storm’s also caused widespread destruction and shut down public transport, shops and factories. 30 Aug 2024 [Source]
“Powerful Typhoon Shanshan makes landfall in southern Japan” — People in Japan are hunkering down in the face of the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year. Typhoon Shanshan has torn into Japan’s southern Kyushu island and is expected to head north over the coming days. Over 55,000 people have been evacuated and hundreds of flights grounded. Authorities have issued the highest level alert for extreme winds and potential storm surges. For more on this, we talk to Sonja Blaschke. She is a journalist based in Japan and joins us from Hiroshima. 28 Aug 2024 [Source]
Lebanon
Lebanon has been recovering from the combined impact of COVID and the Beirut accidental explosion in 2020 — with the political and economic challenges that followed.
A militant group called Hezbollah has a growing presence in Lebanon. The group is considered to be funded by Iran and serving Iranian interests as well as offering some protection along the southern border of Lebanon.
Due to the length of time that Hezbollah has been present, and some involvement in government, the entire country of Lebanon may sometimes suffer if there are retaliatory strikes targeting Hezbollah. Learn more by reading the Lebanon Report 2024.
The video below reflects on the four years since the Beirut explosion. It was the largest non-nuclear explosion in history.
An organization called Beit El Baraka is helping to rebuilt the Lebanese economy and community. [Watch Video | Visit Website]
Mexico
“After over a month of living in black sewage waters, residents of Mexico’s Chalco remain anxious” — Sewage-infused floodwaters have invaded Chalco, a low-income suburb of Mexico City, for over a month. According to the government of Chalco, more than 2,000 homes and over 7,000 residents have been affected, with water reaching up to 5 feet in some areas. (AP Video: Julián Trejo Bax and Félix Márquez) 13 Sep 2024 [Source: AP via YouTube]
Myanmar
The video below from 10 Jun 2024 offers a recent update from Myanmar. Learn more by reading the Myanmar Report 2024.
Nepal
“Over a hundred people killed by flooding and landslides in Nepal” — In Nepal, at least 148 people have been killed by flooding and landslides, with dozens more still missing. Local media are reporting it as some of the heaviest rainfall in decades. The government says schools and colleges will remain shut nationwide for the next three days. Authorities in Nepal expect the death toll could rise, as reports are collected from the many villages across the remote mountainous country. 29 Sep 2024 [Source]
Nigeria
“One million Nigerians displaced by severe flooding” — Nigeria is grappling with severe flooding. Several days after a dam collapsed, emergency crews are struggling to reach people trapped by the floodwaters. Authorities say 30 people have been killed, and some one million others displaced by the worst-ever floods in Africa’s most populous nation. [Source]
“Boko Haram militants terrorize farmers in northeastern Nigeria” — Suspected Boko Haram militants have killed at least 80 people in northeastern Nigeria. Police say roughly 150 insurgents stormed into the village of Mafa on motorcycles, shooting residents dead and setting buildings on fire. Dozens of bodies have been retrieved but authorities say many are still missing and fear the death toll could rise. Authorities say it appears to be a revenge attack for the killing of two militants by vigilantes from the village. Boko Haram have killed more than 40,000 people in the northeast in the last 15 years. The group has also been terrorizing farmers in northeastern Nigeria. The militants steal crops and kidnap agricultural workers for ransom. The government recently deployed a new security force to protect the farmers. But it hasn’t been enough to stop the attacks. 7 Sep 2024 [Source]
Pakistan
For Pakistan news, refer to Pakistan Report 2024.
Sudan
The reports below offers an update on the situation in Sudan.
“PBS News Weekly: An inside look at Sudan’s civil war | Aug. 30, 2024” — For nearly a year and a half, Sudan’s army has been locked in a brutal civil war with a militia known as the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has devastated the country and triggered the world’s largest displacement of people. More than 10.7 million people have fled the violence, according to the International Organization for Migration. And as the war continues, the U.N. has warned of famine in some areas. In rare on-the-ground reporting, PBS News special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen traveled to cities on the front lines to meet the people caught in the middle of the violence. 30 Aug 2024 [Source]
“Peace talks could mean more humanitarian aid to millions of hunger-stricken Sudanese” — Peace talks are underway in Geneva to end the 16-month war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. But only one side has shown up to the talks. Half of Sudan’s population of 50 million is now facing food insecurity and famine. One of the negotiations’ main goals is to open three border crossings, which would allow more humanitarian aid into the country. DW Correspondent Mariel Müller traveled to Chad’s border with Sudan to speak with refugees. They shared their stories with her about the brutal war that forced them to flee their homeland. 20 Aug 2024 [Source]
UK
Far right skinhead nationalist extremists, concerned about the impact of immigrants on their society, are rioting in the streets in protest of immigrants. They are starting fires in the streets, attacking police, and generally causing havoc. Their hope is to bring attention to how disruptive immigrants are. Meanwhile, the immigrants are peaceably working and living as they have been over the past 100 years.
The video below from Deutsche Welle on 19 Aug 2024 takes a deep dive into the topic.
Venezuela
The video below is provided by the Canadian broadcaster CBC on 30 Jul 2024.
“Venezuela’s ‘stolen’ election: Can Maduro be forced out?” — The re-election of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has sparked violent protests across the country as the opposition — and much of the world — questions the legitimacy of the outcome. Andrew Chang explains why the result is in dispute, and what it could mean for a country in a years-long crisis. [Source]