Grand Rapids, Mich - The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee,with Nicaraguan partner, Accion Medica Cristiana,is providing food, water, sanitation and roofing supplies to outlying communities near Puerto Cabezas in the North Atlantic region in response to Hurricane Felix, a category 5 storm that ransacked the Eastern Nicaragua coastline last week. Thirty-nine people are believed dead.
CRWRC Latina AmericaTeam Leader LeanneGeisterferindicated earlylast week that death tolls were likely as low as they arebecause of effective disaster preparedness programs, includingRefuge Centers forresidentsforcedfrom their homes by fierce flooding, wind and rain. In some outlying coastal villages, the destruction wasnearly total.
AMC online News Release No. 4 (Sept. 5, 2007) saysthatbefore Hurricane Felix stormed across the landscape, there were "107 houses locatedNorth of (Puerto Cabezas), and 103of those 107were totally destroyed...."
Most of the affected homeswerethatched-roof andwooden plank construction. Onlybuildings made of cement still stand.
The Nicaraguangovernment estimates that more than 5,500 homes were destroyed across Northern coastal Nicaragua. Reports are that 35,000 of the nation's poorest residentsalong the Miskito coast are most affected.
"Even in good conditions," blog David and Wendy VanKlinken, Partners Worldwide (www.partnersworldwide.org) staffworking in Managua (www.nehemiahcenter.net) with CRWRC, "access and communication in this region of the country is difficult; since the hurricane, the area is even more isolated due to felled trees, flooding, road damage, and mud slides.
"Locally, we are collecting food, water, clothing and blankets in Managua," the VanKlinkens continue. "At the international level, we are working with collaborating organizations to raise awareness of the needs, and to secure fundingand medical supplies that can be sent Northto support the relief efforts.
"CRWRChas already secured $20,000 for the first phase response. These fundsare beingdirected toward food, water, and shelter reparation in two communities (outside Puerto Cabezas) wherenearly all ofthe residents lost their homes to wind damage."
Emergency aid distribution will be managed by AMC staff already on the ground.
In addition to near-totalhousing losses in the coastal area,Felix hit indigenous subsistence farmers at the peak of the rice harvest.With the hurricane, the rice in the fields and a good part of what was already harvested was lost. An anticipated second phase of hurricane recovery will involve rehabilitation of agriculture production.
CRWRC International Relief'sGrace Wiebesays the agency is seeking $150,000 for second phase recovery from the International Humanitarian Assistance Division of the Canadian International Development Agency (www.cida.ca) this week, as well as possible long-terminputs from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (www.foodgrainsbank.ca).
For media interview about CRWRC's currentor pending response to Hurricane Felix in Nicaragua, contact Jacob Kramer, CRWRC International ReliefDirectorat1-800-730-3490.
For information about CRWRC's programs in Nicaragua, contact CRWRC Media US, Beth DeGraff, at 1-616-648-7821.
Tocontribute financiallyto CRWRC's Hurricane Felix response in Nicaragua, go online to www.crwrc.organd choose "Hurricane Felix" on the donations page, or call 1-800-55-CRWRC to give a charge card donation. Checksmade out to CRWRC can bedesignated "Hurricane Felix" on the memo line and mailed to: CRWRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Mich., 49560-0600. All donations are tax deductible.
CRWRC is a Christian, non-profit organization of the Christian Reformed Church in North America providing a ministry of development, relief, and justice education to people in need around the world. CRWRC is currently active in 30 countries and has an international reputation for "helping people help themselves."