The Red Cross is providing emergency relief in Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Belize, where heavy rains and floods have been causing devastation since 16 October.
Honduras has experienced the worst conditions with 200,000 people affected and 18 confirmed dead. A further 130,000 people have been affected in the other three countries.
More than 22,100 people have lost their homes in Honduras. In addition, many people have been evacuated without sufficient temporary shelters available. Many schools, homes and agricultural crops have been destroyed along with much of the country's water and sanitation infrastructure.
Emergency relief
On 24 October, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched an appeal to support 8,000 families with immediate relief. The British Red Cross made a =A325,000 contribution from its Disaster Fund.
Red Cross staff and volunteers in Honduras, Guatemala, Niraragua and Belize are providing affected people with food, water, blankets, and hygiene and kitchen sets.
Pete Garratt, British Red Cross relief operations manager, said: "This is already a significant scale of disaster with large numbers of displaced and affected people requiring immediate emergency relief assistance. As heavy rains continue in the region the situation may get worse and support for the Federation appeal is vital."