Global Disasters/ Significant Events Headlines – 14 April 2013

H7N9 avian flu human infections in China climb to 60, with 13 fatalities

Latest Update [2013-04-14 19:23:48 local time]: “Shanghai reported two more deaths from H7N9 bird flu on Sunday, while three new cases were confirmed, local health authorities said in a statement,” said a report.

• The latest update raises the infection toll to 60, and the fatalities to at least 13.

Earlier on Sunday…

Two new infections of H7N9 avian flu were reported in east China’s Jiangsu Province on Sunday, bringing the total number of such cases in China to 57.

“Eight new cases of human infection were reported nationwide on Sunday, with two in Henan Province in central China, two in Jiangsu Province and four in Zhejiang Province in east China. Of the 57 people infected thus far, 11 have died,” said a report.

All four patients in east China’s Zhejiang Province were in serious condition, according to the provincial health department, said a report.

• H7N9 Infection: Beijing Reports First Case, China’s 44th April 13, 2013

Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus

This is a “novel” (non-human) virus and therefore has the potential to cause a pandemic if it were to change to become easily and sustainably spread from person-to-person. So far, this virus has not been determined to have that capability. However, influenza viruses constantly change and it’s possible that this virus could gain that ability. CDC takes routine preparedness actions whenever a new virus with pandemic potential is identified, including developing a candidate vaccine virus to make a vaccine if it were to be needed. There is no licensed H7 vaccine available at this time. —CDC

• Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus – CDC

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UPDATE: Earthquake that hit “birthplace of Japan” caused by “unknown active fault”

The magnitude 6.0 quake that hit Awajishima Fukin on Apr 13, 2013, at 05:33 local time has reportedly injured two dozen people, 7 of them seriously, and damaged more than 1,900 homes.

• “The government’s earthquake research committee said Sunday an unknown active fault may have caused a magnitude 6.3 [revised down to M6.0 by JMA] earthquake that jolted western Japan early Saturday.” Kyodo reported.

• The fault reportedly extends about 10 km from north to south of the island, according to the committee.

• “There are many as-yet-unrecognized active faults,” warning that  M6  quakes could occur anywhere in Japan, the committee chief has said.

Earthquake Details

• Magnitude: 6.0
• Depth: 10 km
• Date and Time: April 13,  2013 at 05:33 JST (local time)
• Epicenter:  34.4ºN, 134.8ºE
• Region: Awajishima Fukin (Source: JMA)

EQ Location Map

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH.

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U.S. Weather:  Major winter storm to impact the north central United States

A major winter storm will impact the north central United States through Monday morning, where total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches will be common. Some locales in central North Dakota could experience more than 15 inches of new snow. Strong gusty winds will also lead to considerable blowing and drifting snow and near blizzard conditions, creating hazardous travel conditions. —NWS

US Weather Hazards Map. The map shows 10 different Weather Warnings, including Red Flag Warnings across parts of 5 states. Source: NWS

IDP Numbers Continue Rising Globally

Deteriorating Humanitarian Crisis: Millions of Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) Facing Severe Food Shortages

Record numbers of migrants from the Horn of Africa are crossing into Yemen: UN-OCHA

The following are excerpts from various reports published by UN-OCHA, its  and other IDP-related agencies.

Ethiopia: More than 107,000 recorded migrants crossed the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden into Yemen in 2012, of whom 80,000 were from Ethiopia.

“Record numbers of migrants from the Horn of Africa are crossing into Yemen, most of them on their way to find better opportunities in Saudi Arabia and other rich Gulf countries. But many do not make it any further. Seeking a new life, they end up unwitting victims of a smuggling racket designed to exploit the migrants at each juncture of their journey.” UN-OCHA reported.

Pakistan:  Since mid-March, about 48,000 people have been displaced from the Maidan area in the Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) , due to an escalation of hostilities between rival armed groups and the Government’s security operations against armed non-state actors. UN-OCHA reported.

• Officials estimate that up to 60,000 people (10,000 families) may leave the conflict-affected area in the near future and remain in displacement for up to six months due to security concerns.

• As of 10 April, UNHCR had registered 2,364 newly displaced families. The majority were displaced to
  Kurram (1,182 families), while the rest sought refuge in Peshawar (555 families), Nowshera (556 families)
  and Kohat (71 families).

• Some 165,427 displaced families, that is IDPs, are currently registered in Khyber Pakhtunkh (KP) and FATA.

Afghan Refugees

• Some 1.64 million Afghan refugees currently “receiving humanitarian assistance.”

• More than 1.3 million others who have returned to FATA since 2009.

Chad: Influx of refugees and returnees

More than 74,000 people have fled into Chad from Darfur in the past two months, 50,000 of them in the past week alone, causing the largest influx of refugees from Sudan into Chad since 2005, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Hunger in Mali

Hunger in Mali has reached crisis levels in the northern Kidal Region and has reached critical levels in Gao and Timbuktu regions, according to food security agencies and the government’s early warning body, UN-OCHA reported.

• One in five households in Gao and Timbuktu are facing severe food shortages, while in Kidal one in five households faces severe malnutrition and increasing mortality.

•  Countrywide, the number of Malians at risk of critical hunger this year is estimated to be 2 million, and 660,000 children under age five are at risk of severe malnutrition, though this latter estimate is based on figures from a 2011 survey.

Central African Republic (CAR)

Humanitarian situation in CAR has deteriorated, leaving civilians in the capital, Bangui, in critical need of aid, according to a senior humanitarian official.

• “The main humanitarian needs in Bangui are access to health and nutrition and clean water [and] security and protection of civilians,” Amy Martin, who heads the Bangui branch of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told IRIN.

• Regarding the number of people affected by the crisis, she said: “We are using the population figure of the entire country, 4.5 million people, [as the number of people] affected. The most vulnerable people – women, children, elderly, [people living with HIV/AIDS] – are most at risk.”

Myanmar

“Two weeks after a wave of anti-Muslim violence engulfed Meikhtila, Mandalay Division—leaving at least 40 dead and 61 injured—more than 12,000 mostly Muslim residents of the city shelter in camps for the displaced. Most of the camps are improvised in schools under the control of the Burmese government. In recent days, journalists have been barred from entering the camps. According to a local National League for Democracy politician, aid organizations have been forced to leave deliveries at the camp gates.”  Irrawaddy reported.

Syria

“The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate, disrupting livelihoods, leading to over 1.3 million people fleeing the country to seek assistance as refugees in neighboring countries.” UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Malian Refugees stranded in Mauritanian desert

About 70,000 refugees from Mali are living in difficult conditions in the middle of the Mauritanian desert, with ethnic tensions in northern Mali quashing any hopes of a swift return home, Said Reliefweb.

Stateless in Mozambique

“A high number of people in our locality have no form of identification, says Veriato Eduardo, an administrator in Angonia in Northwestern Mozambique near the Malawi border. This prevents them from registering their children in schools and from expanding their small businesses. In this part of the country, a high number of adults are returned refugees, who lost their documentation during the civil war, and have therefore been left stranded.” UN Children’s Fund reported.

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DISASTER CALENDAR – April 14, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,063 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,063 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs