In the wake of the catastrophic impact of Cyclone Harry, ADRA Italia has officially launched an emergency fundraising campaign to support relief efforts in Sicily. The region continues to grapple with severe structural damage and mass displacement, with the municipality of Niscemi (Caltanissetta) identified as one of the most critically affected areas.
In addition to the human displacement in Niscemi, the economic impact of Cyclone Harry across the Mediterranean regions is profound. Preliminary assessments indicate that the total infrastructure and agricultural damage across the three most affected Italian islands and regions (Sicily, Calabria and Sardinia) has reached nearly €2 billion.
Situation Overview: The Niscemi Landslide
A massive landslide, spanning a four-kilometer front, continues to destabilize the landscape in Niscemi. Local geological conditions remains volatile, hindering immediate recovery efforts and posing a persistent threat to residential infrastructure.
Displacement: Approximately 1,500 residents have been evacuated from their homes.
Infrastructure Risk: Emergency services ordered the evacuation of an entire neighborhood overnight as the landslide progressed.
Current Status: Displaced individuals remain in temporary shelters, as authorities have yet to determine when—or if—affected zones will be safe for reentry.
ADRA Italia’s On-the-Ground Response
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), maintaining a local office in Niscemi, is working in direct coordination with municipal authorities and civil protection services. Volunteer teams, including members of the AISA Pathfinders, have been integrated into the central reference point for evacuees since its inception.
According to Elena Ingalina, ADRA’s local coordinator, the agency’s operations are currently focused on three primary pillars of emergency relief:
Shelter Management: Volunteers are managing the assembly of overnight stations, providing beds, blankets, and pillows, and facilitating the registration of displaced persons to ensure accurate tracking and resource allocation.
Sanitation and Hygiene: Rigorous sanitization of facilities is being conducted to maintain public health standards within high-density temporary shelters.
Food Security: ADRA teams are currently operating mobile kitchens. Efforts are also underway to repurpose a local gymnasium into a centralized dining hall to streamline meal distribution for the hundreds of affected families.
Humanitarian Appeal
To sustain these operations and provide long-term recovery assistance to the families affected by Cyclone Harry, ADRA Italia has established a dedicated emergency fund. These resources will be utilized for the procurement of essential supplies, logistics support, and rehabilitation efforts in the Caltanissetta province.
How to Contribute
Financial contributions can be made through the following channels:
Online Donations:
Account Holder: ADRA Italia
IBAN: IT 72 S 01030 03203 000002465824
Reference (Causale): “Emergenza Sicilia”
ADRA Italia remains committed to providing aid with dignity and transparency as the situation in Sicily evolves.
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