wfn.org | ADRA Continues Relief In Nicaragua

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

February 7, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

ADRA Continues Relief, Provides Development In 
Nicaragua

Managua, Nicaragua. [APD/ADRA] The Adventist 
Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues 
its relief efforts in Nicaragua, adding 
development projects to its portfolio of relief 
assistance to the thousands still affected by 
Hurricane Mitch.

The United States Agency for International Development 
(USAID) allocated nearly half a million dollars to 
ADRA's six-month food-for-work project, and joined the 
World Food Programme (WFP) in providing food for the 
same. This month ADRA began delivering up to 6,600 
tons (6,000 metric tons) of the food to families that 
participate in the program. For four hours of work a 
day, each family member will earn a ration of food for 
their family. The workers will form teams to build 
houses, repair community health outposts and clean 
roads.

Consistent with its mission, ADRA works with its 
clients as partners, actively supporting communities 
in need through development activities that are 
planned and implemented co-operatively. Food-for-work 
programs allow ADRA to benefit communities while 
helping people retain their sense of dignity and self-
sufficiency.

Next month, ADRA will begin building 300 to 500 homes 
throughout the most affected areas of Nicaragua. The 
two-room structures for hurricane victims will be 
built with cement floors, block walls, steel roof and 
personal latrine. With funding from Denmark, ADRA will 
also place community water filters in areas where the 
water supplies were contaminated by the flood waters 
that followed Hurricane Mitch. The project is expected 
to be finished in June.

This month, ADRA finished the distribution of 15 
containers of relief items, including clothes, food 
and medicine, which were donated in November from 
various organisations around the world. At least 20 
more containers are en route to Nicaragua and will be 
distributed in the northern region of Nueva Segovia 
during February and March.

More than 50 medical volunteers, most from Canada and 
the United States, attended to more than 10,000 
hurricane victims from November 10 to January 10. "A 
medical team of seven from Miami holds the ADRA record 
for treating the most victims in one day: 420 victims 
who had everything from the flu, to leg fungus, to 
dehydration," reports Anthony Stahl, ADRA Nicaragua 
director.

Following Hurricane Mitch's damage, ADRA distributed 
more than one million pounds (450,000 kilograms) of 
food to more than 200,000 people in northern Nicaragua 
from November 2 through December 22. Many of the 
victims worked for the food by clearing roads, making 
it possible for ADRA vehicles to enter isolated 
villages with the commodities. 

ADRA worked with USAID, Save the Children and Project 
Concern International in distributing nearly three 
million pounds of food from November 7 to December 9, 
1998. After receiving the food via Boeing 747 cargo 
planes, the food was sent by land to accessible 
refugee camps in Nicaragua.

Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA) provided 100 
boxes of medicine just in time for Christmas and for 
the arrival of ADRA volunteer medical teams. "At that 
critical time, ADRA Nicaragua had almost depleted its 
donation of medicine," adds Stahl. 

During November, ADRA also prepared and distributed 
emergency packs of shovels, pans, soap, chlorine 
towels, etc., to hundreds of families and donated 
5,000 sheets of metal roofing to cover shelters in 
areas where people are rebuilding.

"Many stories can be told of lives saved thanks to the 
medical teams and to the numerous donations given to 
ADRA's relief efforts," adds Stahl. "And we cannot 
forget the many volunteers who are giving their time 
and talents to help so many suffering people." 
[99/04/02]