It
will take months, maybe years, before people in Honduras recover
from the trail of death and destruction left by Hurricane Stan.
Two weeks after the worst flooding and landslides to hit the
region, many are still coming to terms with the destruction.
Many have lost everything they have worked all their lives to
build; others have lost loved ones.
“We lost everything we had,” said one villager from
Choluteca, one of the worst-affected areas. “Our belongings,
our farm jobs, everything, but we are happy that we are alive.”
The Honduras Red Cross has launched the Honduran Red Cross Hurricane
Stan Plan of Action campaign that seeks to help at least 6,000
families in the south Honduran territory. Through the campaign,
these families will benefit from a one-month humanitarian aid
distribution plan.
The Honduran Red Cross, with financial support from the Swedish
Red Cross, will proceed with its distribution of aid in 18 communities
of Nacaome and Alianza, both in the Valle Department. In the
initial distribution, 500 families will receive hygiene kits
and food that will last at least 20 days. A total of 40 tons
of food is expected to be delivered.
“Damages caused by Hurricane Stan in Honduras are numerous,”
said Juan Jose Castro, a member of the Honduras Red Cross. “We
will continue to bring support to those affected. Our volunteers
are participating and doing the best they can in the circumstances.”
Many of the communities’ basic needs such as clean drinking
water are not available and there is a real fear of consequent
disease. The Honduras Red Cross is therefore also providing
water trucks to stop people from using what might be unsafe
water. For some people, this is the first time in two months
that they have been given safe water to drink.
“Our main objective is to help bring hope to those affected
by the floods and fulfil our objective of assisting the most
vulnerable,” added Mr Castro.
Throughout parts of Honduras, many people are trying to get
back on their feet after the worse hurricane since Hurricane
Mitch swept through Central America in 1998. Recognising the
fear and helplessness felt by people across this region, the
Red Cross quickly mobilised its resources to try and ease some
of their suffering.
More than 2,000 Red Cross volunteers and staff are carrying
out emergency operations in eight Central American countries
to help more than 10,000 families affected by Hurricane Stan..
On 17 October, the International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies launched a revised appeal for Central
America, Mexico and Haiti for more than six million Swiss francs
(USD 4.7 million/3.9 million Euros). This is a significant increase
on the initial appeal made on 7 October for 1.5 million Swiss
francs.
The revised appeal will support the response of local Red Cross
National Societies in assisting 50,250 people in Guatemala,
Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Haiti for six months.
The Federation has also deployed a number of people to assist
in the recovery efforts.
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“We
lost everything we had,” said one villager from
Choluteca, one of the worst-affected areas. “Our
belongings, our farm jobs, everything, but we are happy
that we are alive” (p13386)
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Many
of the communities’ basic needs such as clean drinking
water are not available and there is a real fear of consequent
disease. The Honduras Red Cross is therefore also providing
water trucks to stop people from using what might be unsafe
water. (p13391)
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|
 |
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In
the initial distribution, 500 families will receive hygiene
kits and food that will last at least 20 days. A total
of 40 tons of food is expected to be delivered. (p13392)
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