October 10, 2005

A week of heavy rains and massive flooding caused by Hurricane Stan has devastated communities throughout Central America including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The storm has also affected parts of southern Mexico. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands more are missing and displaced around the region.

Torrential rains also have triggered deadly mudslides in El Salvador and Guatemala. In Guatemala, more than 500 people have been killed. Several communities have been buried completely by landslides. More than 70 people have been killed and an estimated 65,000 people are homeless in El Salvador. Twelve rural villages were completely destroyed. The government has declared 75 percent of the Salvadoran territory at risk.

"The rain has caused damage nationwide; even more than that which was caused in the country by Hurricane Mitch in 1998," said the Most Rev. Martín Barahona, Primate of the Anglican Church of Central America (IARCA) and Bishop of El Salvador. "Seventy-eight percent of our road system has been damaged and crops have also largely been damaged. Rivers and streams, both in the capital and elsewhere, are overflowing their banks, taking with them many homes of those who live in extreme poverty. In addition, mudslides have buried many houses, sometimes with families inside."

Two other natural disasters have hit the Central American region. On Friday, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake rocked both El Salvador and Guatemala. On October 1, El Salvador's highest volcano, Ilamatepec, erupted, killing two people and forcing thousands to flee. The volcano is centered 40 miles west of the capital, San Salvador.

Partnering with the Anglican Episcopal Church of El Salvador and the Asociación Mangle, Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing emergency assistance including food, medicine, shelter, and other basic necessities to more than 40,000 displaced people. ERD is in communication with the Dioceses of Guatemala and Honduras and will send additional aid in the next few days.

"We are responding to needs of displaced people impacted by massive flooding and we will continue monitoring developments in Central America," said Abagail Nelson, ERD's vice president of Program. "Advantageously, we have established long-term relationships with dioceses in the region and Asociación Mangle, an agency ERD has been working with on disaster mitigation, food security, and primary health programs after the 2001 earthquakes in El Salvador."

To help people affected by disasters, make a donation to the Emergency Relief Fund at http://www.er-d.org/, or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to Episcopal Relief and Development, Emergency Relief Fund, PO Box 12043, Newark, NJ 07101.

Episcopal News Service