Appeal Target: US$ 105,445
Balance Requested from ACT Network:
US$ 91,205
Geneva, 21 October 2002
Dear Colleagues,
At the end of September, Hurricane Isidore swept through the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico leaving destruction and loss of lives in its wake. Hurricane Isidore brought heavy rains that severely affected Central America and particularly the southern coast of El Salvador where approximately 3,000 poor families that depend on agriculture, fishing, arts and crafts, and small businesses were affected.
The Paz River in the municipality of Cara Sucia overflowed its banks and inundated the villages of El Castaño and Garita Palmera. The Disaster Prevention Centre - built during the rehabilitation phase of Hurricane Mitch and currently administered by the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod, the Lutheran World Federation and the board of the inter-community organization in Cara Sucia - activated its early warning mechanism and 200 persons were evacuated and sheltered in the Centre. Using their own resources the three organisations provided relief assistance to the affected population in the crisis phase.
The Salvadoran Lutheran Synod, which has been working with the communities of Cara Sucia since the Hurricane Mitch disaster, is proposing post-crisis assistance to the affected population through:
- Inputs and technical assistance for the recovery of 400 manzanas of corn
- Inputs and technical assistance for the recovery of 40 poultry farms
- Health campaigns and medicines to prevent waterborne diseases
- Risk management training
The other ACT members in El Salvador do not intend to respond to this emergency as they do not have activities in the affected area. They have been informed through the ACT co-ordination mechanism and they fully endorse this proposal.
Project Completion Date: 31 May 2003
Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested (US$)
| Total Appeal Target(s) |
105,445
|
| Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd. |
14,240
|
| Balance Requested from ACT Network |
91,205
|
Please kindly send your contributions to the following ACT bank account:
Account Number - 240-432629.60A (USD)
Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together
UBS SA
PO Box 2600
1211 Geneva 2
SWITZERLAND
Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (direct tel. +4122/791.60.38, e-mail address jkg@act-intl.org) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.
We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.
For further information : ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org
|
Ms. Geneviève Jacques
Director WCC/Cluster on Relations |
Thor-Arne Prois
Director ACT |
Robert Granke
Director LWF/World Service |
ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.
The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER
- Salvadoran Lutheran Synod
II. IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER & PARTNER INFORMATION
The Salvadoran Lutheran Synod - have permanent teams to respond to emergency situations. The Department of Diaconia and Development, within the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod, is responsible for co-ordination within the church of all efforts related to humanitarian assistance. In this they have the support of all church departments along with the parishes and their congregations.
The Salvadoran Lutheran Synod supported and accompanied the communities of the southern zone of Ahuachapan during the emergency caused by Hurricane Mitch. Later, during the rehabilitation phase they began to strengthen social organisations to face the problems posed by the recurrent overflowing of La Paz River. This process involved all the social actors in the region and the representatives of the Government.
During the rehabilitation phase the Synod provided training in health, economic recovery and human rights. Land was also purchased to set up the Disaster Prevention Centre as well as a community radio called "Stereo Sur" to be used in disaster prevention and early warning.
During the floods caused by the River Paz breaking its banks during the passage of Hurricane Isidore 50 families had to be evacuated to the Disaster Prevention Centre in Cara Sucia.
The centre of disaster prevention
Taking into consideration that the southern region of Ahuachapan is low lying and prone to flooding the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod, in association with the Lutheran World Federation, built the Disaster Prevention Centre with a capacity to temporarily lodge up to 500 persons.
The centre has a dormitory, a warehouse for basic grains, a community radio and administrative offices for the operation of the Inter - Community Board. This infrastructure was made with the support of ACT during the Post Mitch rehabilitation phase. Currently, the centre is administered by the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod, The Lutheran World Federation and the Inter- Community Board of Cara Sucia.
III. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION
During the month of September, Hurricane Isidore swept through the Caribbean (mainly Cuba and Jamaica), the Gulf of Mexico, the southern coast of El Salvador, Nicaragua and the northern coast of Honduras leaving destruction and loss of lives in its wake. Approximately 3,000 poor families that depend on agriculture, fishing, arts and crafts, and small businesses were affected on the southern coast of El Salvador.
Due to the Rio Paz breaking its banks more that 400 families lost crops. Two hundred people were forced to evacuate and sought shelter in the Disaster Prevention Centre in Cara Sucia. Approximately 600 Manzanas ( 1 Manzana is 0.7 hectares) of crops were lost.
According to the Food World Program more than 8.5 million people in Central America suffer from malnutrition. One of the main causes of malnutrition is the recurring natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, droughts, etc) that affect the region and disrupt the normal production cycles. Furthermore, the poor management of natural resources in the region exacerbates the negative effects of the disasters. The disasters affect the poorest families, small farmers, small merchants and rural labourers.
El Salvador is a country that has suffered continuous disasters during the last decade. In 1987 a strong earthquake severely affected the country. Ten years of civil war destroyed the productive capacities of the country. After the peace agreement in 1990, Hurricane Mitch hit the country in1998 causing devastation in the rural areas. The earthquakes in 2001 destroyed entire regions of the country and finally the drought in May and June of this year has caused a loss of 50% - 60% of the basic crops in the eastern part of the country. In the western part of the country, which includes the departments of Ahuachapan and La Paz, floods have caused a loss of 60% of the cultivation. The country finds itself permanently in a state of emergency with a government that seems incapable of taking any preventative action or bettering the situation of the vulnerable families who have been most affected by the emergencies.
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