wfn.org | Relief agency plans housing and much more in El Salvador

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2001-89

Relief agency plans housing and much more in El Salvador 

by Ed Stannard 
estannard@episcopalchurch.org

     (Episcopal Life) In the aftermath of three earthquakes this year, Episcopal Relief 
and Development (ERD) is launching a major project to build more than 200 houses, while 
going beyond shelter to provide health care, small-business projects and even an early-
warning system for future natural disasters.

     ERD, formerly known as the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, is working 
with the Diocese of El Salvador on the project, which starts May 1. ERD has earmarked 
more than $2.2 million to build 200 earthquake-proof houses in the villages of 
Sonsonate, Usulutan and Santa Ana, severely damaged in the January and February quakes. 
The plan is to complete 100 houses in the first year. 

Working with poorest 

     "The Diocese of El Salvador is very community-development-focused, even before the 
earthquake," said Abagail Nelson, who coordinates projects in Latin America for ERD. 
The diocese is experienced in such work because of civil war and Hurricane Mitch. 
"Their focus is working with the poorest of the poor, giving them opportunities to 
participate in the transformation of their own lives," Nelson said. 

     El Salvador, formerly part of the Episcopal Church, is now part of the Anglican 
Church in the Central American Region. 

     Nelson reported that during her visit to El Salvador, she helped members of the 
diocesan staff distribute hundreds of bags of food and other essentials to needy 
families. Others involved in relief include Action by Churches Together, Doctors 
without Borders and the Lutheran World Federation. 

     While the capital of San Salvador was spared much of the damage from the quakes, 
primarily because of better construction, one in three houses in the countryside has 
been severely damaged or destroyed, Nelson said. "Basically, it's a devastating 
situation. ... People are living outside under plastic tarps." Most houses in rural El 
Salvador were built of adobe, loose wood or cinderblocks, which the earthquakes turned 
to rubble. 

     "We want to make sure we're building structures that are sturdy and will survive 
the next earthquake when it comes, because El Salvador will always have earthquakes," 
said Nelson. To that end, only workers with professional expertise will be asked to 

take part in the building projects. Volunteer work teams, who are helping build houses 
in Honduras, which was ravaged by Hurricane Mitch, will not be asked to go to El 
Salvador. Those who will own the houses will be trained in construction so they can 
help build their own homes. 

     "The idea is, if you have some kind of professional service that you want to 
donate to the Diocese of El Salvador, we want to refer you to Cristosal," an Episcopal 
non-governmental organization that promotes understanding of El Salvador and which is 
overseeing the construction. 

     With the change of its name at last summer's General Convention, ERD increased its 
focus on long-term development projects, which improve people's health, education and 
economic well-being, going further than traditional relief. Development will be a major 
part of the Salvadoran project. 

     The health program will establish clinics and teach community residents sound 
health practices. It will include two part-time physicians, a psychologist and a 
nurse/physiotherapist. Malaika Kamunanwire, ERD's director of development and public 
relations, noted that mental health assistance is a particular need in a place where 
tremors were a fact of life for weeks. Loud noises would instill fear in already-
devastated Salvadorans, she said. Also, long-term stress can create physical ailments, 
such as asthma. 

     Contributions, which may be designated for El Salvador, may be sent to Episcopal 
Relief and Development, c/o Bankers Trust, Box 12043, Newark, N.J. 07101. Donations 
also may be made from the Web site, www.er-d.org, or by phone, 800-334-7626, ext. 5129. 

     To contact Cristosal, call its chair, Richard Bower, at 802-228-5452, or e-mail 
him at rabvt@together.net.

--Ed Stannard is news editor of the Episcopal Church's national newspaper Episcopal 
Life