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Honduras

ACT Preliminary Appeal Honduras: Rehabilitation in rural communities affected by earthquake - HND092

Attachments

Appeal Target: US$ 300,808

Geneva, 5 June 2009

Dear Colleagues,

On 28 May 2009, an earthquake of the magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale struck Honduras on its Atlantic coast. The most affected regions are the Bahía islands (Roatán, Guanaja and Utila), the harbor towns of La Ceiba, Trujillo and Puerto Cortés and the valley of Sula. Other parts of the country were affected due to reactivation of geological faults. In the Departments of Santa Bárbara, Cortes and Yoro, the government disaster response agency COPECO reports a total of seven deaths including three children, 17 persons injured, 132 houses destroyed and 409 damaged. Bridges and public infrastructure were damaged, including roads, water system and electricity lines. Communications were also affected.

On 29 May, COPECO together with Bolsa Samaritana and supportive families have distributed immediate humanitarian assistance to the affected persons, including tents for temporary shelter and food. In some locations, school was suspended as a preventive measure. The Ministry of Health is monitoring the risk of epidemiologic outbreak , in particular where water is lacking.

The ACT Forum in Honduras supported the municipal and local infrastructures (CODEM and CODEL) in the damage evaluation and needs assessment, which were made particularly difficult by the interruption of communication services and electricity lines. It also worked with its own partners in order to assess the damage and needs as accurately as possible. Among the most important needs are the reconstruction and repair of houses and psychosocial support to help the affected population to resume a normal life.

ACT members involved are the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), as the appeal requesting member, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA-Nicaragua) and Christian Aid (CAID). Implementing ACT partners are: Organismo Cristiano de Desarrollo Integral de Honduras (OCDIH) and Comisión de Acción Social Menonita (CASM). They plan to support 146 families in the municipalities of Puerto Cortes (Dpt of Cortes) and Chinda (Dpt of Santa Barbara) with psycho-social care and assistance to rebuilding their houses.

The ACT members are also in contact with the organization CEPUDO, a partner of the North American organization Food for the Poor. CEPUDO has had many projects focusing on the construction of houses.

Project Completion Date: 31 May 2009

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested:

Appeal Target (USD): 300,808

Less: Pledges/Contr Recd: 0

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 300,808