1.1 Tunisia Humanitarian Background Disaster, Conflicts, and Migration Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response Government Humanitarian Community Disaster, Conflicts, and Migration Natural Hazards Type Yes Comments / Details / No Drought Yes Droughts are especially challenging for the poorest regions, where livelihoods are mostly agriculture-based and potential adaptive measures are often underused due to financial constraints and information access. Earthquakes Yes In 2019an earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale hit Siliana province in northwestern Tunisia without causing much damage. The epicenter of the earthquake was at 36.04 degrees north latitude and 9.20 degrees east longitude, about 15 km west of Siliana province. Epidemics Yes Positive COVID-19 cases reached in October 2020, 22,230 and death toll of 321 Source: Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) Extreme Yes In Tunis, the summers are short, hot, humid, dry, and clear while the winters are long, cold, windy, and partly cloudy. Over Temperatures the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 7°C to 34°C and is rarely below 4°C or above 39°C. Flooding Yes Torrential rains and flooding in Tunisia have lead to deaths and loss of property. Insect N/A Infestation Mudslides N/A Volcanic No Eruptions High Waves / N/A Surges Wildfires Yes On the 31st of July 2020, a fire in the Jendouba Governorate and Bizerte resulted in the destruction of houses, displacing around 500 persons. High Winds N/A Other Some of the most common natural hazards that have affected Tunisia over the years have been floods, landslides and earthquakes Comments (particularly in the areas of Regions that have experienced earthquakes are Tunis, Ben Arous, Nabeul, Bizerte, Monastir, El Kef, Jendouba, Sidi Bouzid, Tozeur), soil erosion, desertification, and others, such as forest fires. Man-Made Issues Civil Strife Yes A series of street demonstrations took place in Tunisia and led to the ousting of the President in January 2011. International N/A Conflict Internally N/A Displaced Persons Refugees The number of refugees in Tunisia is estimated to increase to 1,680 people by the beginning of 2020, with the majority Present residing in urban areas. Page 1 Landmines / N/A UXO Present Other N/A Comments For more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters: http://www.emdat.be /country_profile/index.html Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities Seasonal Effects on Transport Type Time Frame Comments / Details Primary Road Transport The roads are wet as it rains once every 2 or 3 days. December to February Secondary Road Transport Not affect by the weather. December to February Rail Transport Not affect by the weather. December to February Air Transport Flights are delayed or cancelled by rain and fog. December to February Waterway Transport High waves during winter and can close the port & presents a threat to small boats. December to February Northern Tunisia has a tropical climate while the central and southern regions have an arid climate. Average annual temperatures of northern mountains are lower than on the rest of territory of Tunisia. They are between 5 °C (41 °F) and 12 °C (54 °F). Summer is hot and humid and winter is mildly warm and rainy. Deserts are cold at nights; temperature may drop to 0 °C (32 °F). The north of the country receives more precipitation so there lots of olive, orange and almond groves as well as fields of sunflowers and pine forests. Flora of southern part of the country is poor for this is the land of sands. Actual spring comes to Tunisia at March where temperatures may rise to 20 °C (68 °F). However, mornings and nights are as cold. Precipitation decreases on coasts and in north of the country it still rains. Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response Government Decree No. 75671 of September 25th, 1975 established that the Minister of National Defense. Aside from ensuring the security and defense, it is tasked to organize the contribution of the Armed Forces to fight natural disasters. Address: Boulevard Bab Mnara Tunis 1008 Telephone: 216 - 71 560 244 E mail: [email protected] Website : http://www.defense.tn For more information on government contact details, please see: 4.1 Government Contact List. Humanitarian Community A Tunisian Government-UN coordination meeting is held every month basis to review humanitarian activities and any preparations on the ground under the joint contingency plan. Link: List of the International Organization and Regional in Tunisia For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see: 4.2 Humanitarian Agencies Contact List. Page 2.