Felix Aftermath and New Flooding

The El Paso Times on Oct. 28 noted that Ortega is warning of the possibility of disease and on Oct. 29 the Times-Union reported that a waterborne disease called Leptospirosis has spread through animal urine has killed nine people and sickened more than 1,600 in storm-stricken Nicaragua, health officials said Monday.

The New Security Beat blog has a good summary posting called An (Un)Natural Disaster in Nicaragua dated Oct. 26.

The United Nations response to flood victims is detailed in an Oct. 25 release.

NicaNet on Oct. 23 quotes officials from SINAPRED (the Nicaraguan Disaster Relief Management Agency) with the following damage from heavy rains in October: In summary, damages during the last 47 days are as follows: 216,000 people (37,287 families) directly affected, 109 dead and 135 missing, 22,000 houses partially or totally destroyed, 150 public buildings (schools, health centers and churches) destroyed, 255,000 acres of crops lost, 45,000 cattle lost, 1.7 million acres of forest destroyed, 9 bridges destroyed and 1,864 miles of road damaged.

ClimateArk on Oct. 24 writes about the hurricane and heavy October rains and the impact on crops and the Nicaraguan economy in an essay entitled Of Forests, Floods, Fatalities and Famine. “This is worse than Mitch,” says President Ortega, referring to the 1998 hurricane.

Oct. 14-19 Updates

On Oct. 18, the blog Gringos in Nicaland recounted a presentation by the director of Accion Medica Cristiana about the relief effort. According to the blogger:

“After the hurricane struck, the government was unable to provide the necessary aid, and developed no effective venue to coordinate private and public efforts. As a result, food and water shipments arrived in some localities two and three times, and in others not at all. Many smaller and more recent developments got no aid because no one even knew they existed. For ten days after the hurricane thousands of people were stranded without shelter, potable water and food.”

An Oct. 17 Military.com article noted the contributions of U.S. Naval Forces:

“The devastating effects of Hurricane Felix along the coast of Nicaragua Sept. 4 created a need for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to thousands. USS Wasp (LHD 1), which was participating in the exercise PANAMAX 07, left Panama Sept. 5 to help deliver relief supplies to the Nicaraguan hurricane victims. Samuel B. Roberts relieved Wasp Sept. 9 and continued the delivery of supplies those in need. The embarked helicopter squadrons on Wasp and Samuel B. Roberts provided valuable assistance, conducting 34 medical evacuations of critically injured victims and airlifting 125,000 pounds of relief supplies to shore.”

Mission Network News reports on Oct. 16 that Nicaragua's hurricane survivors are still in need of aid and that World Vision has sponsorship program areas in northern Nicaragua. Last week, World Vision's Nicaragua staff sent an additional 64 tons of aid. 1,600 families will receive a week's worth of emergency supplies, including kitchen utensils, blankets, and personal hygiene kits.

On Oct. 15, the Mennonite Central Committee reported that is shipping canned meat and relief supplies worth more than $180,000 to communities devastated by Hurricane Felix in Nicaragua. Also, check out this 5-minute audio podcast from MCC.

York University of Canada, and staff from the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC) are mounting a fundraising campaign to help people in the area of Nicaragua devastated by Hurricane Felix. Support will be given through Rights Action. The same appeal points to these links:

• Flattened by hurricane, Mosquito Coast faces hunger and disease


• UN to launch $17-million appeal to feed 100,000 Nicaraguan hurricane victims


• Naciones Unidas reforzará Comité de Emergencias de la RAAN


• “Más de 300 muertos reportan comunidades”


• Uraccan Update 1


• Uraccan Update 2
  

Oct. 9-13 Updates

I strongly recommend listening to this interview with the Rev. Norman Bent, a retired leader of the Moravian Church in Nicargua. (2 minutes, 30 seconds from CEPAD's website). He speaks about the impact of Hurricane Felix and poses a challenge to North American Christians to take action to help their Nicaraguan brothers and sisters in light of the emergency. (This video would be good to play for a group when conducting an appeal.)

Church World Service had a Oct. 10 update noting the response of its Nicaraguan-based partners to assist 21 communities in the affected areas of Tasba Pri, Llano Norte de Puerto Cabezas and Tasba Raya with the supply of food, personal hygienic kits and safe water. They will also rehabilitate roofs, support planting trees and vegetables and provide psychosocial care. The members will also support the communities in measures of disaster preparedness. All efforts are scheduled to be completed by Sept. 30, 2008. Also, see Accion Medica Cristiana's Sept. 18 report and CEPAD's report from Sept. 26.

El Nuevo Diario on Oct. 13 reported on the environmental devastation -- with half of the forest of the region having been wiped out by the hurricane. The damage will take years to resolve and will have a devastating impact on land and marine wildlife.

The Economist ran a brief article about President Ortega and noted this about US relief efforts: The United States ambassador openly campaigned against Mr Ortega's election. Since then, relations have been correct. The Americans donated $1.4m in aid after Hurricane Felix ravaged Nicaragua's Atlantic coast in September, and American troops shuttled in supplies by helicopter and aeroplane. Although the American embassy protested when the government seized tanks from a local subsidiary of Exxon Mobil to store Venezuelan petrol, the dispute has been settled.

Groups in Manchester, England are sponsoring a benefit on Oct. 29.

Although not directly related to hurricane relief, the World Bank announced $240 Million in assistance to Nicaragua over the next five years. A week earlier, the International Monetary Fund approved $111.

The Nicaragua Resource Network-North Dakota is raising funds and sending groups to provide assistance according to this Oct. 13 blog entry.

The Nica Times ran an Oct. 11 article, Autonomy Incomplete After 20 years.

Oct. 1-8 Updates

An Oct. 9 La Prensa article notes that plans are developing to improve the distribution of aid in Puerto Cabezas and the RAAN.

An Oct. 3 El Nuevo Diario article describes the aftermath of Hurricane Felix – the destruction of crops and the ensuing hunger – profiling the communities of La Esparanza and Santa Clara. Oxfam is mentioned as providing some relief and developing a plan to distribute seeds for the next crop.

USAID reported that it has contributed $1.5 million in relief to Nicaragua including In addition, USAID airlifted 940 rolls of plastic sheeting, 3,552 hygiene kits, 3,875 blankets, 13,000 ten-liter water containers, and other essential supplies to Puerto Cabezas. (Earlier video about US relief added to YouTube on Oct. 6.)

Action by Churches Together International writes on Oct. 5: “The ACT members Christian Medical Action (AMC), Interchurch Center for Theological and Social Studies (CIEETS), Council of Evangelical Churches (CEPAD), the Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope (ILFE) have assessed the damages in three zones of the affected region: Tasba Pri, Llano Norte de Puerto Cabezas and Tasba Raya. The loss of lives is particularly high in Tasba Pri where more than 60 people were reported killed, 423 missing and 123 wounded. The damages to housing and agriculture are tremendous, with up to 80% of the total infrastructure and harvests devastated. The very poor communities are cut off from roads. The population has no access to clean water and is threatened with water borne diseases.”

Oxfam posted this video on Sept. 30.

Here’s a heartfelt video on YouTube of some of the devastated areas. The author notes, “I put this video together in the hopes that it would generate some interest by various groups to help rebuild villages that were devastated by Felix. I am hoping some rich folks will see this and adopt a village. The video quality is poor, but it's the best I could do until I learn more about posting videos on the web. use your pause button to read the info on the slides. visit my website at: http://crosscountry4jesus.com/.”

The Wisconsin Coordinating Council on Nicaragua sponsored a fundraiser concert on Oct. 4 for victims of Hurricane Felix.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society noted that it had dispatched a medical team which was treating patients in Sandy Bay.

Report from Leimus, Nicaragua

La Prensa ran an October 2 article which describes the hardships in the community of Leimus (near Waspam). Check out this helpful map by the World Food Programme.

The needs described by the victims include:

• Mosquito nettings


• Plastic covering for temporary shelters


• Clothes


• Food


• Equipment to dig new wells


• Chain saws

In addition, my opinion: donations of money to a reputable relief and recovery organization may be the best contribution -- money is the most flexible, and a local organization may be able to procure some items locally thus avoiding the costs of transport and stimulating the local economy.