Compassion International Aids El Salvador Through Presidential Appointment For Relief

Compassion International
Thursday, 18 January 2001

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO., January 18, 2001- El Salvador President Francisco Flores has appointed the Conesal as the evangelical Christian relief network charged with coordinating relief efforts by Compassion and more than 50 international Christian organizations. Compassion's El Salvador Country Director Wilfredo Luna has been named the general coordinator of the Conesal, providing food, water, and other relief supplies via 25 relief centers.

According to Luna, Compassion's field staff is canvassing the area most heavily damaged by the quake to determine any injuries or casualties among Compassion's assisted children, church partners, or staff. To date there have been no reported casualties. The immediate concerns are for the 10-plus projects nearest the epicenter of the earthquake, which was located offshore south of San Salvador, the nation's capital.

Neighboring Guatemala also was impacted by the quake. As relayed by Compassion's Guatemala Country Director Jorge Ponce, there have been no reports of injuries or casualties in Guatemala to Compassion-assisted children, church partners, or staff at this time.

A national state of emergency was declared in El Salvador following an earthquake measuring 7.6 in magnitude, which shook much of the country on Saturday, January 13. Nationwide more than 1,000 people were confirmed dead, with more than 2,000 reported injured and approximately 500 still missing. President Flores warns that the number of casualties may grow to 3,000. Over 19,000 houses have been destroyed and the preliminary number of refugees stands at 45,000. Over 800 aftershocks have been felt in the region since Saturday's quake, and more tremors are likely.

Donations are being accepted for Compassion's Disaster Relief Fund. Compassion International can be reached at 3955 Cragwood Drive, Colorado Springs, CO, 80918, or by phone at 800-336-7676. Click here to give online.

Compassion has served in the country of El Salvador since 1977 and now assists more than 9,700 children through 76 church-based projects. Compassion has worked in Guatemala since 1976 and presently assists more than 15,000 children through 101 church-based projects.

For more information, or to contact Compassion International, see their website at: www.compassion.com