Organizations Helping Nicaragua's Relief & Recovery Effort

In my opinion, if you want to help, channel your support through the Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church which has very strong ties with the Miskito people throughout the affected region in Nicaragua from Bilwi (formerly known as Puerto Cabezas) to the Rio Coco river on the Honduran border. The Nicaraguan Moravian Church's social development organization is called IDSIM. Here's a link to more about IDSIM's work on the Atlantic Coast. The Board of World Mission asks that all donations be designated for The Moravian Disaster Response (MDR) Fund at PO Box 1245, Bethlehem PA 18016-1245. (The Indian Law Resource Center also recommends the Board of World Mission.) See the appeal letter by clicking here.
A September 11 Nuevo Diario article quotes Nicaraguan Moravian Superintendent Cora Antonio Matamoros saying that "la Iglesia Morava reporta unas 150 iglesias destruidas" (150 destroyed Moravian Churches) -- the article also notes that the first direct flight from Miami was distributing water in the region.

Other organizations which are providing relief and recovery:

• The Red Cross' appeal and action plan (dated September 12) is here in a 7-page report.
• Here's a pretty good video (posted Sept. 11) with footage from Puerto Cabezas and Krukira from Operation Blessing.
• UNICEF's September 11 release includes updated damage assessment information and outlines their plans for immediate response (September-December 2007) and "rehabilitation" (January - March 2008). The release notes, "Four out of eight municipalities from the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) were directly affected by Felix and 34 communities were completely destroyed. In total, 52,000 children are younger than 5 years of age, with an estimate of 25,000 in the affected area. The already precarious situation of this population may be worsened by flooding, scarcity of food due to the loss of their crops, water contamination in wells, increase of malaria and dengue infections and increased chronic malnutrition."
• A September 10 Miami-Herald article noted that the Miami-based Nicaraguan Civice Task Force and other nonprofits loaded a plane with donated water, food, medicine and enough supplies to provide 20,000 people with water for days flew from Miami to Puerto Cabezas. On a related note,Ted Wilde (retired long-term Director of the Board of World Mission), writes, "I have heard from Moravians in Nicaragua yesterday (Sept. 10) that the wharf at Puerto Cabezas can receive goods from boats. They expect the road from Managua to Puerto Cabezas to be usable soon. So international aid and in-county purchases with international funds can both contribute to meeting the immense immediate needs and the start of rebuilding."
• A September 10 La Prensa article notes that the World Food Programme delivered tons of food in the Tasba Pri and "Mines" area.
• A September 10 press release says that 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.
• Oxfam will assist 30,000 people according to a September 10 La Prensa article. They will center around 45 communities in the Rio Coco, Bilwi, Sasha and Siuna.
• A September 10 Miami-Herald article noted that the Miami-based Nicaraguan Civice Task Force loaded a plane with donated water, food, medicine and enough supplies to provide 20,000 people with water for days flew from Miami to Puerto Cabezas. Ted Wilde (former Director of the Board of World Mission), writes, "I have heard from Moravians in Nicaragua yesterday (Sept. 10) that the wharf at Puerto Cabezas can receive goods from boats. They expect the road from Managua to Puerto Cabezas to be usable soon. So international aid and in-county purchases with international funds can both contribute to meeting the immense immediate needs and the start of rebuilding."
• In a post on September 9, Mission Aviation Fellowship is helping provide an "air bridge" from Managua to Puerto Cabezas and the RAAN. A September 13 article notes that the air bridge will wind down in a few days with the expectation that the road from Managua to Puerto Cabezas will reopen.
• The nonprofit organization "Madre" receives recommendations from many people. Here is a letter from Myrna Cunningham, also a board member of the Global Fund for Women.
• CARE has prepared for immediate Hurricane Felix relief efforts to reach 23,000 people with food, water, sanitation services and shelter supplies. CARE has also allocated $2 million to sustain relief efforts for 90 days following the emergency.
• The American Red Cross and the International Red Cross Federation is seeking to raise $825,000 in support of the Nicaraguan Red Cross to supply some 23,000 people (4,600 families) with emergency items including tents, mosquito nets, blankets, jerrycans, clothes, bedding and plastic sheeting.
• The Catholic Relief Services response in Nicaragua will focus on the Waspam area, northern Matagalpa, and northern Jinotega where it is currently carrying out risk mitigation and agricultural rehabilitation activities. Depending on the course of the storm, Jinotega, Matagalpa, and Estelí are areas where CRS and its partners have strong on-the-ground presence and capacity to provide emergency and rehabilitation assistance. Immediate needs include the distribution of emergency rations, essential non-food items, and plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, all of which were pre-positioned in CRS warehouses. A CRS official in Nicaragua said in a September 11 interview: "The crisis is not close to being over, but we are finally getting an idea of what the main obstacles to recovery are - transportation and logistics...What is most useful [from donors] is money. As much as people will want to send goods such as food or clothing, transportation is a serious problem, and we may incur great expenses transporting the goods to the impacted communities."
• World Vision notes in a September 7 release that Nicaraguan staff members coordinated with the national air force to send a shipment of clothing, shoes, plastic sheeting, medicines, and medical supplies to assist storm survivors in Puerto Cabezas, one of the most affected areas. They also have negotiated with the Nicaraguan government to send a second relief shipment into the disaster zone. In addition, plans are underway to seek funding to assist with reconstruction efforts.
• Save the Children is now distributing plastic sheeting for shelter, water and hygine kits and special materials for children as it expands its relief assistance to thousands of children and families forced from their homes in Nicaragua a result of Hurricane Felix.
• Adventist Development and Relief Agency has a team of 10 emergency rescue specialists based in Managua is flying to the heavily hit Atlantic coast to provide emergency aid, including first aid kits, blankets, and food baskets for 1,200 displaced survivors in the affected towns of Puerto Cabezas, Tasba Raya, and La Tronquera.
• San Francisco de Asis (SFA) a nonprofit organization based in Nicaragua. Established in 1993, SFA providesopportunities for the poor by facilitating year round basic human needssuch as nutrition, education, health care, psychological counseling,housing and vocational training.
• Christian World Service will support "Action By Churches Together" ACT-Nicaragua members. A September 11 press release notes that $50K was sent.
  - Christian Medical Action (AMC) -- this organization is also a partner of Tearfund - Tearfund had this September 14 posting about impending food shortages
  - Council of Evangelical Churches for a Denominational Alliance (CEPAD)
  - Interchurch Center for Theological and Social Studies (CIEETS)
  - Interchurch Organization for Development Co-operation - Kerkinactie (ICCO/KIA)
  - Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope (ILN)
  - Lutheran World Relief (LWR) - Central America Office
  - Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA)
• A Sept. 14 article describes plans of a Baptist work group.
• Mennonite Central Committee partners in Nicaragua include Accion Medica Cristiana, which provides health care in eastern Nicaragua, and the Anabaptist Emergency Commission, which is a partnership of Nicaraguan Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches.
• Telecoms Sans Frontieres sent 5 technicians to the Atlantic Coast, providing assistance to the relief organizations and United Nations agencies by deploying communication centers in Puerto Cabezas. These installations include Inmarsat terminals, BGan, Gan M4, Minis M and laptops. A TSF press release notes, "Efficient telecommunications infrastructure plays a crucial role ensuring the success of emergency coordination." Additional TSF centers will be installed in Sandy Bay and Waspan.
• The Rainforest Foundation is raising funds for the Awas Tingni community, a Mayangna (Sumo) indigenous community that was in the path of Hurricane Felix.
• La Prensa's September 5 list of places receiving donations has detailed contact information and lots of photos.
• This is a 2007 directory of development organizations in Nicaragua (30-page pdf).