By Katia Maldonado.
The approaching winter is causing anxiety
among thousands of Salvadoran families who lost their houses when two earthquakes
hit the country last January and February 13. The National Meteoreology
Center has warned that six hurricanes are forecast to affect the country
between May 21, and October 16 this year.
In response, World Vision is planning the construction of 3,000 houses for poor families.
The earthquakes destroyed 41,302 houses and damaged another 15,706 homes, says the National Emergency Committee (COEN). Many of these families have also been left without employment and do not have enough resources to be able to reconstruct their homes.
They are now living in temporary shelters or houses made of cardboard, plastic or tin sheets, waiting for the winter.
Gertrudis Navarro, 68, and his wife live with their daughters and grandchildren. This household of 14 people are one such family to benefit from this housing program.
"We are very poor. After the earthquake of January 13 we have left even poorer, because we lost our home, which though it was a little deteriorated, protected us from the sun and cold," says Gertrudis. He and his family spent several days sleeping out of doors, and and then several days more sleeping in a shanty of plastic and tin sheets.
However three of Gertrudis' grandchildren are sponsored by World and relief workers quickly ensured the family were provided with a house.
In areas where World Vision is already in working with communities to fight poverty, the construction of homes has already begun and planning is in place to build homes for 3,000 families in three districts.
The two bedroom houses of prefabricated material have been designed to withstand further tremors.
The poorest families, particularly those female headed households, will be targeted for housing. For families who lost their homes built on land that they do not own, steps are being taken to ensure that the local government donates land for new permanent housing.
As winter rapidly approaches, hope and faith are keeping Salvadorans standing. NGO's have a central role meeting the enormous need of these impoverished families