wfn.org | Hurricane Mitch devastates Central America

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

LWF, local churches and partners assist victims

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador/GENEVA, 23 November 1998 (lwi) - As the tropical
storm Mitch intensified in Central America, causing heavy rainfall, the
Evangelical Lutheran Churches in the region continued rescue and other
emergency operations to assist tens of thousands of people affected by the
tragedy.

According to El Salvador's National Center for Emergencies, about 240
people had been reported dead and another by 135 were still missing by
November 16. Altogether 84,000 people have been directly affected by
hurricane Mitch. The national committee puts the total cost of destruction
to the country's infrastructure and agriculture at more than $125 million.

In El Salvador, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for World
Service has formed an emergency committee comprising the Salvadoran
Lutheran Synod, the Episcopal Church and other local counterparts to meet
the needs of the people affected by the disaster. The LWF is the local
implementer of emergency response activities by the Action by Churches
Together (ACT), the worldwide network of churches, their related agencies
and implementing partners responding to emergencies all over the world.

In the most affected areas, Episcopal and Lutheran parishes, Salvadoran
Lutheran Aid and Lutheran youth brigades as well as LWF staff are
distributing emergency shelter, generic medicine and food.

After the first phase of emergency assistance between 31 October and 14
November, ACT evaluated measures to be taken in the transition phase from
16 to 28 November and planned the next phase which should last at least
ten months.

Some areas are difficult to access

In the meantime, most families that had moved to temporary shelters mainly
in churches and  community centers have returned to their home areas,
often sharing a tiny room with poor sanitary conditions. Some communities
in the western department of Ahuachapan and Usulutan regions are still
flooded, making it difficult to access. Delivering supplies by boat
therefore becomes extremely difficult and expensive.

Clearing the surrounding areas and providing clean drinking water are
urgent priorities. Many wells are contaminated, which means they must be
drained completely and cleaned, and the new water must be chlorinated.

Second phase programs, which will be negotiated with the World Food
Programme (WFP) will include food aid for the next nine months until the
next maize harvest.  Other measures to be taken include provisional
shelter, provide basic furniture and other essential relief items as well
as agricultural inputs and implements.

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/