A rapid needs assessment was carried out from mid-­‐November to mid-­December 2013 in Dar’a Governorate and covered a population of 692,000 people across 12 of the 17 sub-­districts.

This thematic report provides an overview of available lessons identified from assessments undertaken concerning the humanitarian situation in Syria as well as the situation for Syrian refugees in host-countries. This report is based on conversations with individuals from different organisations working in the region. The document does not intend to provide a comprehensive list of all the issues that should be taken into account while conducting an assessment, but rather provides a starting point for organisations planning an assessment in Syria or the host countries. For more guidance on how to conduct an assessment please see the key resources at the end of this report.

The traffic lights chart depicts an initial multi-sector overview of needs from Round 11 of the NPM Site Assessment – these results are preliminary and require further analysis. Of the 37 indicators have been used in the construction of the Basic Needs Gap, have already been analysed and included in the previously-documented Prioritisation Index and its component sector sub-indices. This product displays results at both camp and mahji block-level, as pockets of high need and other variations cannot be understood through camp-level analysis alone. The size of each point reflects the number of people in need. Sites and blocks are scaled separately. The percentage of persons with needs in that sector are listed next to each site.

This traffic lights diagram is based on the result of multisectoral priortrisation tool developed by the Analysis Hub. The tool uses NPM site assessments Round 13 data from four sectors to priortise needs geographically, at majhee block level. The 45 indicators used are selected from the sectors to build up a composite index, and combined to make up Basic Needs Gap Index at majhee block level. Each indicators are evaluated for their inclusion in the priortrisation tool and selected according to the amount of variation it revealed. The Betti-Verma method is used to calculate the weight of each indicator and multiple deprivation tool is used to calculate the index in STATA. Additional explanation can be found in the Rohingya Influx Overview. Camps and sites are too large and diverse to be effective planning devices. The analysis for the Basic Need Gap Index was done at majhee block level because the majority of differences and variations in needs are between majhee blocks; and camp level analysis can hide the pockets of high need area.

Despite an abundance of information and the large presence of assessment actors in Cox’s Bazar, it remains challenging to develop a strong overall understanding of Rohingya refugee needs, as well as how those needs interact with each other and within the complex context of the Rohingya refugee response. Since the 2017 influx, many actors have contributed to the hundreds of assessments done and have generated analysis to inform their programming decisions, increase coordination, and influence decision makers. Except during the imposition of COVID-19 restrictions, the Rohingya refugee camps are highly accessible compared with other large and protracted emergencies, making it a conducive environment for primary data collection exercises and resulting in an overassessed population.

This report draws on current primary data, a secondary data review of previous conflicts, and discussions with operational actors in Yemen to provide a rapid estimate of the potential humanitarian impact of prolonged urban conflict in Aden to support early response planning (until agencies can conduct needs assessments). It also highlights projected humanitarian implications if the current ceasefire fails.

The April 2019 Rohingya Influx Overview (RIO) describes the evolution of Rohingya refugees’ needs in Cox’s Bazar, based on latest Needs and Population Monitoring (NPM) Site Assessment data collected between 14 January and 19 February 2019.

The report also addresses the potential impact of any severe weather events, as Bangladesh has entered the April-May cyclone season, to be followed by the June-September monsoon season.

Since the publication of ACAPS Nigeria Floods Update I Briefing Note on 26 September, rains have continued although Niger and Benue river levels have dropped slightly. As of 26 September the flooding of the Niger and Benue rivers is affecting 826,400 people and displacing 176,300 people across 12 states. Assessments are ongoing, and numbers are likely to increase. Since 26 September, some 200 deaths and 1,035 injuries have been reported. Assessments indicate that around 17,800 homes were damaged or destroyed across all affected states as of late August. Shelter, food, NFIs, and medical assistance continue to be key needs for the affected population. There is no available data from Adamawa and Taraba states.

The height of the rainy season is expected in August, with 90% of Sierra Leone’s yearly rainfall normally recorded in July and August. Western Area Urban and Western Area Rural districts are particularly vulnerable due to their high population density, proximity to the coast and deforestation in the neighouring hills. The recent flooding of 14 July 2020 raises a number of concerns regarding the level of preparedness. There has already been minor displacement but no assessment of the needs of those displaced highlighting the limited capacity of emergency response in Sierra Leone. 

This report aims to provide an overview of the impact of the hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Caribbean. For the purposes of this report, the focus is limited to the following seven countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Sint Maarten, and Turks and Caicos Islands. All, except Sint Maarten, are Members of CARICOM. The depth of the report also reflects the limited availability of data, which in turn means that figures and information need to be updated in the future. The current data were based on the Post-Disaster Needs Assessments (PDNAs) conducted in Antigua and Barbuda and in Dominica and by other available sources. These are all listed in the Reference section.

Over 18,800 people have been displaced in March 2019 in Diffa region as a result of Boko Haram activities and attacks against civilians, adding to the 249,000 people previously displaced by the conflict, including 104,300 IDPs, 25,700 returnees and 118,900 refugees from Nigeria. In most cases, IDPs have fled without taking their belongings and are in urgent need of shelter, food and NFI support. Assessments conducted in the IDP sites have also shown a need for improved WASH infrastructure. Protection remain a high concerns as attacks against civilians have continued throughout the month of March and the risk of gender based violence is high.

Humanitarian data analysis aims to provide decision-makers with a rapid understanding of needs, as well as context analysis. In South Sudan there is a large amount of data and information. While this can be positive in some ways, it can also be overwhelming for decision-makers and programmers, as well as for the communities assessed. Further, the information available does not always answer the questions necessary to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian response, development, and peacebuilding programmes. ACAPS mapped the information landscape in South Sudan with the objective of identifying information gaps and needs, as well as good practices in data collection and analysis. The overall aim is to support the assessment and analysis community in South Sudan by seeing clearly what is already available in terms of data and information and what areas of the analysis ecosystem could be strengthened.

Get the metadata document used for this report

The Syria Needs Analysis Project (SNAP) started in December 2012, as a collaborative project between ACAPS and MapAction, aimed at bring together available information on humanitarian needs in the Syria crisis. At the time, information-sharing and publications on the humanitarian situation were extremely limited; in this context, SNAP’s initial goal was to help create a shared situational awareness among humanitarian actors, which in turn would contribute to a better-targeted and more needs-based response and improvements in the situation of crisis-affected populations. Over 2.5 years, SNAP has pursued these goals with a combination of independent information products, technical support and capacity building for humanitarian assessments. At the end of 2014, the project name was changed to Strategic Needs Analysis Project, to reflect the growing need for regional and whole-of-crisis analysis following the declaration of an L3 crisis in Iraq. The project closed at the end of June 2015.

Since the publication of ACAPS Nigeria Floods Briefing Note on 21 September, river levels in most of the 12 affected states remain high due to flooding, which has affected 441,251 people, and displaced 141,369 people between late August and 24 September. A total of 108 deaths and 192 injuries have been reported as of late August. Rainfall is expected to continue for the next week. Rivers and Bayelsa states are estimated to be amongst the worst affected states where water levels continue to rise. Initial assessments indicate that 13,031 homes were damaged or destroyed across all affected states as of late August. Shelter, food, NFIs and medical assistance continue to be key needs for the affected population.

Heavy rainfall since 25 March triggered floods across Herat, Badghis, Faryab, Sari Pul, Jowzjan and Balkh provinces in western and northern Afghanistan affecting 17,000 people. As assessments are ongoing and some of the affected areas are difficult to access, the full impact remains unclear. Available information suggests that vast areas of agricultural land have been damaged, and livestock lost, compounding already high levels of food insecurity in the affected provinces. Shelter needs are likely high as hundreds of houses have been damaged or destroyed. IDPs living in tents and makeshift camps are affected. Afghanistan has been experiencing severe floods since early March, affecting more than 143,000 people across the country.

ACAPS Humanitarian Access Overview provides a snapshot of the contexts where humanitarian action faces the biggest constraints. Our analysts have scored each context on nine variables in order to rank and compare humanitarian access worldwide. Crisis affected populations in about 60 countries are not getting the humanitarian assistance they need due to access constraints. Eight new countries were included in the ranking since the last ACAPS HumanitarianAccess report released in May 2019. Among the indicators, ‘Physical constraints’ and ‘Restrictions and obstruction to services and assistance’ are the most common challenges. This report presents the score boards for all the countries assessed. Narratives are provided only for countries with high, very high, or extreme constraints.

As at 22 March 2022, the cyclone had affected over 488,000 people and displaced around 23,400, including 61 people killed and 82 injured. These numbers are preliminary, and several assessments are still underway. The number of those affected will likely increase to 580,000 in five provinces: Manica, Nampula, Tete, Sofala, and Zambezia. The cyclone destroyed more than 1,450 classrooms in 469 schools and 69 health centres. It completely or partially destroyed 105,000 houses, displacing people to 52 shelters and two resettlement site. The main needs are livelihood and education. The cyclone has destroyed more than 91,100 hectares of crops and disrupted access to education for more than 143,900 children.

Since June 2022, heavy rainfall and strong winds have been severely affecting Nigeria. As at 6 October, flooding had affected 33 of its 36 states. As at 20 October, the crisis had displaced more than 1.4 million people and affected over 2.5 million. Bayelsa State was reported to be the worst affected, with around 700,000 people displaced or affected as at 18 October. As at 18 October, over 600 fatalities and more than 2,400 injured people were reported across the country. The floods have triggered a cholera outbreak in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (the BAY states). As at 30 September, 7,700 cases, including 324 deaths, were reported across these three states. Conflict and insecurity also affect Borno. Detailed information on humanitarian needs for each state is limited as there has not been any comprehensive needs assessment yet.

On 28 November 2021, an earthquake of magnitude 7.5 on the Richter scale and VIII on the modified Mercalli intensity scale (categorized as severe) occurred in the district of Barranca, Datem del Marañón province, department of Loreto. The main impact is concentrated in the departments of Amazonas, Cajamarca, Loreto, and San Martin in the north of the country, in the Amazon jungle. As at 14 December, the earthquake has caused the death of one person and injured 17. Over 5,100 houses, 518 schools, and 71 hospitals were affected. The earthquake has destroyed several roads and caused the Utcubamba River to overflow. The most affected regions are in the Amazon jungle, with very limited access because of the damage caused to the few existing roads. The official number of people affected may still increase as needs assessments are in progress.

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh has been a place of refuge for Rohingyas fleeing violence in Myanmar on numerous occasions since 1978. August 2017 saw the beginning of the largest and most rapid influx of Rohingya refugees, over 730,000 Rohingya, including 400,000 children, fled across the border in response to a genocide.

They joined an estimated 300,000 Rohingya who had already fled violence in previous years, creating the world’s largest refugee camps. As of October 2019, there are 914,998 refugees living in 34 sites in Ukhiya and Teknaf sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar. Of those, 55 to 60% are children, 4% of households are headed by a child, and there is an estimated 11% of people with disabilities. 

This document collates and analyses publicly available secondary information focusing on children and youth since the influx of Rohingya Refugees at the latter end of 2017 favouring the most recent reports. Over 35 documents and assessments have been reviewed and data from the MSNA and the NPM where relevant have also been included. Technical advisors from Save the Children reviewed the document and contributed to the identification of information gaps.

The aim of the document is to give an overview of children’s needs both inside and outside the camps and identify child related information gaps. The desk review will then be used as a basis to guide the design and methodology of the primary data collection of a children’s consultation led by Save the Children.