Source: European Commission Humanitarian Aid department
Country: Fiji, Guatemala, Japan, Nicaragua, occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic, Tonga
SYRIA – Conflict
- On 2 March, shelling and fighting erupted in the Palestinian camp of Yarmouk in Damascus, thus effectively breaking the truce that had allowed the delivery of humanitarian aid in the past days. The ceasefire negotiated in mid-January was repeatedly broken in the first weeks of February; delivery of urgently needed assistance was interrupted for several days. On 26 February, UNRWA had received authorization to resume food distribution inside the camp without the involvement of third parties, and to work from one of the agency’s facilities. UNRWA reported: no aid delivery had taken place at the weekend due to the latest round of violence in Yarmouk.
JAPAN – Earthquake
- On 2 March, at 20.11 UTC an earthquake of 6.5 M (depth: 111 km) hit under sea, approx. 100 km NW of Okinawa.
- USGS-PAGER: shaking up to “Moderate”. No tsunami risk, no damage reported.
GUATEMALA – Volcanic Eruption
- In the morning of 2 March, Pacaya Volcano erupted. Pyroclastic material was ejected to 800 m height and ash to 3.7 km from sea level, affecting principally the villages of El Rodeo and Patroncinio west of the mountain.
- Authorities claim this activity might continue and increase in the following hours and days, generating possible lava flows.
FIJI, TONGA - Tropical Cyclone KOFI
- KOFI caused heavy rains and floods in Fiji on 25-28 February. As of late on 2 March (media) there were still 800 evacuees housed in relief centres in Viti Levu.
- Later, on 1 March, KOFI passed around 80 km west of Tongatapu (Tonga's main island), as a Tropical Storm, causing heavy rains, some coastal flooding and evacuations in Tongatapu (local media).
NICARAGUA – Earthquake
- On 2 March, at 09.37 UTC an earthquake of 6.2 M (depth: 72 km) struck off the coast of northern Nicaragua, just south of the Gulf of Fonseca. It was felt in Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador.
- USGS-PAGER: shaking up to “Strong” for approx. 28 000 people.
- As of 3 March morning, no reports of personal or material damage.