wfn.org | Homes For Hurricane Mitch Survivors In Nicaragua

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

October 30, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

ADRA Inaugurates Homes For Hurricane Mitch Survivors In 
Nicaragua

Managua, Nicaragua. (APD)    The Adventist Development and 
Relief Agency (ADRA) recently inaugurated 35 homes in El 
Rosario, Nicaragua for families who were living under plastic 
tarps after Hurricane Mitch floods destroyed all their 
possessions and homes. The new homes are being provided 
through funding by ADRA's international network and with 
land donated by the mayor of El Viejo, Salizar Castillo.

The 35 homes are a 20-square-foot construction of concrete 
blocks with two rooms, a personal latrine, and a metal-sheeting 
roof, built similarly to housing projects funded by ADRA 
earlier this year. With the new homes, ADRA has now helped 
build 658 new homes for Hurricane Mitch survivors in three 
regions of Nicaragua, including homes built as part of a 
food-for-work/housing project funded by the United States 
Agency for International Development (USAID) earlier 
this year. 

"The inauguration program on October 14 was unique due to its 
difficult access," says John Lohr, ADRA Nicaragua planning 
director. "El Rosario, on the Gulf of Fonseca overlooking 
Honduras and El Salvador, is an agricultural/fishing region 
more than 40 miles from the closest town. It has little or 
no road access during the rainy season except by utility 
vehicles."

The opening ceremony included speeches by Mayor Castillo and 
several ADRA Nicaragua and Inter-American Region staff. More 
than 275 community members attended the ceremony, including 
the major Nicaragua newspaper La Prensa and a channel 4 news 
crew.  

Lamar Phillips, ADRA Central American Union director, states, 
"The community was impressed that ADRA built such good 
buildings, so quickly, and at such a reasonable price. 
The 35 houses are a significant contribution to the 
devastated families of this very remote area."

With additional funding from many of ADRA's European offices, 
spearheaded by Germany and Switzerland, ADRA Nicaragua soon 
plans to build about 85 more homes throughout hurricane-affected 
areas of Nicaragua. To date, ADRA has provided more than US$15 
million in relief assistance to those in Central America 
affected by Hurricane Mitch.