In the wake of Cyclone Harry’s severe impact on southern Italy, ADRA Italia has launched an emergency fundraising campaign to support relief and recovery efforts in Sicily. The municipality of Niscemi, in the province of Caltanissetta, has been identified as one of the hardest-hit areas, where structural damage and displacement continue to affect residents.

Beyond Niscemi, preliminary assessments point to extensive losses across multiple Mediterranean regions. Early estimates indicate that combined infrastructure and agricultural damage across Sicily, Calabria, and Sardinia has reached nearly €2 billion (about US$2.2 billion).

Landslide in Niscemi keeps residents out of their homes

A large landslide has continued to destabilize terrain in Niscemi, leaving local conditions volatile and complicating recovery operations.

Authorities have evacuated approximately 1,500 residents, and emergency services ordered the overnight evacuation of an entire neighborhood as the landslide advanced. Many displaced families remain in temporary shelters, with officials still unable to confirm when or whether affected zones will be safe for residents to return.

Relief operations coordinated with local authorities

ADRA Italia, which maintains a local office in Niscemi, is working in coordination with municipal authorities and civil protection services. Volunteer teams, including members of the AISA Pathfinders, have been supporting the main reference point established for evacuees since it opened.

Elena Ingalina, ADRA’s local coordinator, said current operations are focused on immediate shelter support, hygiene measures, and food distribution. Volunteers have been assisting with the setup of overnight spaces, distributing beds, blankets, and pillows, and helping register displaced residents to support coordinated response efforts. Teams have also been carrying out sanitization work in high-density shelter spaces to protect public health.

To meet ongoing needs, ADRA volunteers are operating mobile kitchens, while planning continues to convert a local gymnasium into a centralized dining hall to improve meal distribution for the hundreds of affected families.

Emergency fund established for continued support

To sustain relief operations and expand longer-term assistance for affected households, ADRA Italia has established a dedicated emergency fund. The organization said donations will support essential supplies, logistics, and recovery efforts in Caltanissetta province as the region continues responding to the aftermath of Cyclone Harry.

The original article was published on the Inter-European Division news site.