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El Salvador

El Salvador Earthquake: Emergency Update 02 Feb 2001

El Salvador will never look the same as it did before the earthquake. Not only will entire rural towns and communities have to be relocated, away from the damaged and vulnerable areas where they have collapsed, but also the rural economy will have to be re-evaluated and restructured.'
Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, Lutheran World Federation /Action by Churches Together

Over a million people - almost 20 per cent of the population - have been affected by the earthquake which hit El Salvador on 13 January. Over 2,500 aftershocks have been registered, causing further damage and fear.

According to figures provided by El Salvador government's National Emergency Committee 754 people have been killed, 4,517 injured and 221,642 houses damaged, with hundreds of people still missing. However, local organisations fear the final toll will be much higher. People are still in a state of shock, especially those who have lost loved ones and their homes.

Lack of shelter is a major problem, compounded by cool temperatures, strong winds and dust: this need will become all the more acute as the annual rainy season approaches in May. It is feared that there will be more mudslides once the rainy season starts.

Clean water is a key issue. The National Administration of Aqueducts and Sewer Systems (ANDA) estimates that at least $7 million worth of damage has been caused to drinking water systems. The breakdown of sanitation has left people vulnerable to epidemics such as diarrhoea, dengue, and respiratory illnesses.

El Salvador's Ministry of External Relations reports that $16 million has been promised by 15 governments and 30 international organisations, although only $1 million had reached Salvadoran government so far. Food, water, clothing, tents, medicines and medical equipment, water purifiers, mobile hospital and other supplies have been donated from many countries, especially those of Latin America. There is continued criticism of the Salvadoran government's lack of support and poor level of preparedness.

Christian Aid's response

Field Officer, Beatriz Aguilar, and Temporary Emergencies co-ordinator, Rob Rowley, are carrying out field visits with partners to assess needs and requirements: so far, reconstruction of houses, food and medicine seem to be top priorities.

CORDES (Foundation for Cooperation with Repopulated and Displaced Salvadorans)

CORDES promotes economic and social development in rural and poor areas. Christian Aid have made a grant to CORDES to provide emergency support for 1,200 families (6,000 people) in Zaragoza, La Libertad and Tecoluca municipalities in the east of El Salvador. In the municipality of Tecoluca nearly all of the houses are uninhabitable. Many people are living out on the streets.

CORDES has set up a distribution centre with 20 volunteers. Goods are received during the day and sorted into family packs during the night, ready for distribution the following morning. Each of the seven regional areas in the municipality are allocated one morning to receive their goods.

Fraterpaz

Fraterpaz is an ecumenical organisation which has been carrying out reconstruction work after Hurricane Mitch in Sonsonate and La Libertad Departments. La Libertad was one of the two worst affected departments. Sonsonate, in the west of the country, was also very badly hit, especially in the rural areas.

The communities where Fraterpaz works in Sonsonate suffered five deaths, and 60 per cent of homes have been damaged or destroyed. Christian Aid is supporting Fraterpaz to provide water, clothes, food, medicine, mattresses, blankets, plastic sheeting and personal items for families in six communities in the department of Sonsonate and five communities in La Libertad.

Equipo Maiz

Equipo Maiz carry out popular education programmes in communities, particularly on issues such as disaster mitigation and preparedness. Through their training programmes they have developed close relationships with the leaders of the communities where they work.

Equipo Maiz has prioritised blankets, plastic sheeting and materials to provide temporary shelter to assist the homeless, who are currently living in the open or under trees. Currently only one of the communities which has asked for help has any kind of temporary shelter. The organisation is providing support to 571 families in Tacuba and Atacó (Ahuachapán), Coatepeque (Santa Ana) and parts of Santa Tecla, channelling all relief through the community or municipality as a way of strengthening local organisation in the medium and longer term.

APRODEHNI (Salvadoran Association for the Promotion of the Rights of Children)

APRODEHNI's priority areas are children and health: it works at community level with health promoters and local emergency committees.

In the communities where APRODEHNI works, in Sonsonate and La Paz departments and around San Salvador, aftershocks (some themselves measuring over five on the Richter scale) have forced people to leave their homes and take refuge in open areas where they are exposed to dust and cold at night. This is causing health problems, especially for children. Further landslides have prevented the removal of rubbish, which is a further health hazard.

APRODEHNI will be targeting 500 families, particularly those whose homes have been partially or completely destroyed. They will be working to provide families with food, clothing, and personal hygiene items, to restore sanitation and clean drinking water and attend to children's mental health needs.

Las Dignas (Women for Dignity and Life)

Las Dignas aims to contribute to the eradication of gender inequality, the strengthening of democracy and the empowerment of women. It is providing emergency support to 8,600 people in seven communities in the department of Usulutàn, one of the worst affected areas.

The organisation is providing temporary shelters for those who have lost their homes: 70 per cent of homes in the area were destroyed by the earthquake. Las Dignas is also providing survivors of the earthquake with food, basic necessities and temporary construction materials.