U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
BACKGROUND AND KEY DEVELOPMENTS
- In early November 2009, heavy and constant rain fell in El Salvador as an indirect result of tropical depressions and Hurricane Ida. Reports issued by the Government of El Salvador (GoES) on November 16 indicate that associated flooding and landslides resulted in the deaths of 192 people, caused 80 persons to be reported missing, and displaced more than 14,295 others.
- On November 10, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Robert Blau declared a disaster in response to the damage caused by the tropical depressions and Hurricane Ida.
- USAID/OFDA has allocated more than $280,000 in humanitarian assistance to El Salvador in response to the damage caused by the storms.
| NUMBERS AT A GLANCE | SOURCE |
| HURRICANE IDA AND TROPICAL DEPRESSIONS |
| El Salvador | 192 dead, 80 missing, 14,295 displaced | GoES – November 16, 2009 |
FY 2010 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING TO DATE FOR 2009 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON
USAID/OFDA Assistance to El Salvador: $281,851
DoD Assistance to El Salvador: $566,423
Total USG Humanitarian Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean for Hurricanes: $848,274
CURRENT SITUATION
El Salvador
- According to the U.N. Country Team in El Salvador, heaviest rain accumulations occurred on November 7 and 8, resulting in flooding and landslides in the departments of San Vicente, San Salvador, La Libertad, La Paz, and Cuscatlán. The GoES reports that flooding and landslides destroyed at least 220 houses, 103 schools, and 25 health centers, and damaged 1,179 houses and 167 bridges. Flooding also destroyed cropland, farm equipment, and livestock.
- The GoES has established mobile health clinics and activated health services surveillance in affected areas. Additionally, the GoES has deployed 1,359 health workers to assist local communities. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reports that the most common disorders in flood-affected populations have been respiratory infections, diarrheal infections, dermatitis, and bacterial conjunctivitis.
- As of November 12, the GoES reported that water service has been restored in 14 of 27 communities left without water since November 7.
- On November 11, the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported plans to provide relief supplies, including bottled water, hygiene kits, school in box units, and recreation kits, to affected populations.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) plans to issue an emergency appeal for $2 million for early and long-term recovery efforts in water and sanitation, health and psychosocial support, food security, and temporary and permanent housing in El Salvador.
USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
El Salvador
- On November 10, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Robert Blau declared a disaster in response to the damage caused by the tropical depressions and Hurricane Ida.
- In response, USAID/OFDA has provided a total of more than $280,000, including $100,000 for the purchase of water, blankets, mattresses, aviation fuel, and shelter materials to assist affected populations, and relief supplies and transport worth approximately $180,000.
- The USAID/OFDA airlift from the Miami warehouse included 200 rolls of reinforced plastic sheeting, 5,400 ten-liter water containers, 5,088 hygiene kits, and two 5,000-gallon water bladders
- As of November 16, six USAID/OFDA staff remain in El Salvador to assist with damage evaluations.
- As of November 16, DoD has provided equipment, transport, and logistic support to affected areas, including four U.S. military helicopters to deliver 200,000 pounds of emergency relief commodities and to conduct aerial assessments over damaged areas. DoD has also provided a team from the U.S. Southern Command to assess bridge damages. Additionally, a team of DoD personnel are purchasing local relief commodities to provide to affected communities.
