Sub Ocean Safety's Blog about Aid to Puerto Cabezas and Big Sandy Bay

This blog is worth checking out for some details about delivery of water and other assistance to Puerto Cabezas and Big Sand Bay. It sounds like they're doing good work.

• September 1o: Good details about contacts with Miskito leaders on the ground in the relief effort (and Sub Ocean Safety's fast relief work)
• September 8: "The only way in is by air ... NOT" - that boats can get to Puerto Cabezas from Bluefields
• September 7: "Critical: First water to reach Puerto Cabezas" and note some needs (donations could go to Sub Ocean Safety.com). He writes: 1) We need hundreds of huge (High "Mill" thickness) black plastic tarps to catch rainwater. This is a light and cheap donation...the best kind.2) Cash for hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel for this ship and hopefully more.3) Small operating cash for Josh, Jason and Juan. Food, batteries, minutes, hats, whatever. Sunscreen!"

About Nicaragua's North Atlantic Coast

Geography

This region of Nicaragua is called the RAAN the acronym for Region Autonoma Atlantico Norte or North Atlantic Autonomous Region.

This is a good detailed map of the region: http://209.15.138.224/inmonica/m_rannx.htm.

This link is a good geographic directory of the cities and towns in the region at http://www.fallingrain.com/

Some of the prinicipal towns most often mentioned in damage assessment reports include:

• Puerto Cabezas (now called Bilwi) - map


• Tuapi (located north of Puerto Cabezas) - a pre-hurricane video "Paseo a Tuapi"


• An article about Krukira from the International Federation of Red Cross Societies
• Dukura


• Miskito Keys (or Miskito Cays) - photo


• Sandy Bay [or Big Sandy Bay] (located north of Tuapi) - here's a YouTube video


• Siuna - in the mining area


• Waspam (on the Rio Coco on the border with Honduras) -- here's another link with a lot of pictures

The photo is of the pastor of the Moravian Church in Krukira -- families sought refuge in the church building as the eye of the hurricane passed directly overhead.

Culture, Autonomous Government

Native Languages' site has several links for Miskito language and culture.

Cultural Survival has several articles on the indigenous people of the Atlantic Coast. Here's an interesting one about higher education for the multicultural communities served by the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua.

The Inter-American Development Bank has a good 2001 article about governance systems in the RAAN entitled, "The Search for a New Kind of Government."

NicaLiving Discussion Forums

While I didn't find the following discussion forums too helpful, the questions and answers may pick up. Here are a couple Nicaliving.com discussion forums:

• Disaster Aid - Puerto Cabezas
• Felix Victim Help