Help Hurricane damaged Honduras

Mercy Corps International
Monday, 12 November 2001

Mercy Corps seeks $15,000 to provide water and shelter to 15,000 affected people

Honduras has been hit by a tropical Depression called Michelle, which eventually was upgraded to a Hurricane. The effect of Michelle has impacted the entire north coast of Honduras especially in the Sula Valley, which has been flooded again, causing the evacuation of many communities in low-lying areas. Further to the south, in Mercy Corps' work area in the county of Yoro, we have had serious problems because of the flooding. Our trucks began moving food to this area over the weekend as many families have lost their homes or have been forced to leave their homes and simply do not have food to eat.

Our initial surveys estimate that over 60 homes were destroyed, numerous water systems were made unusable and the emergency replanting of corn and beans which we had just gotten into the ground with very good results, is largely gone. Not all the farmers were affected, thank goodness, but we need to replant and we are in the process of finding seed to do this as soon as possible. We think that we might be able to get about five-ton of corn seed donated from a local seed supplier who has become sympathetic to our efforts in getting crops put into the ground.

One of the major needs coming out of the Yoro is getting the community water systems back into operation. The town of Yorito was hit especially hard and its residents are without access to clean water. It is a town of about fifteen thousand people. Most recently received news from our field people is that a water truck is taking bottled water out to Yorito but is stuck somewhere on road going into that area from the south. The road from San Pedro Sula coming into Yoro from the north has been taken out by the storm and may not be reopened for several months.

Seventy-five percent of the main roads along the coast were heavily affected and some were completely cut . Ironically, some of the third-level farm to market roads built and reconstructed by Mercy Corps over this past year are now being used for re-routed alternative traffic routes as some of the main roads have been taken out.

We are still evaluating the needs but we do need some help with the restoration of a number of municipal and community water systems and for the purchase of galvanized roofing for those families who have lost their homes. We have calculated that it will cost $120 to purchase roofing for a normal sized house. We have calculated that we will need a minimum of $15,000 to purchase pipe and roofing supplies in order to respond to communities and people trying to move forward.

The Government of Honduras is concentrating most of its efforts in the Sula valley and the coastal areas, which are still partially under water. We are seeking donations of seeds and tools locally for replanting part of the lost bean and corn crop.

This is just a short update on the effects of the recent hurricane damage. For some areas, it was worse than Hurricane Mitch and for other areas it was much less. But the vulnerability of Honduras to these natural disasters is much too frequent and even more disturbing to those who have hopes of breaking through the poverty cycle that binds too many here in this poor country.

For more information, or to contact Mercy Corps International, see their website at: www.mercycorps.org