The torrential rains which Hurricane Ida left in its wake have caused rivers to burst their banks in El Salvador, leading to severe flooding, landslides and heavy damage to infrastructure in five departments - San Salvador, San Vicente, La Paz, La Libertad and Cucustian. According to the government, 124 people have been confirmed dead to date, while 60 others remain missing.
Some 1,400 families have been affected by the floods, 1,020 of whom have been transferred to public schools which the authorities have transformed into temporary shelters.
From the outset of the disaster, Salvadorean Red Cross (SRC) staff and volunteers were mobilized in the most affected areas. Several search and rescue teams, which include air rescue units, were sent into the affected regions, to help search for the missing. At the same time, SRC teams have begun initial damage assessments of basic infrastructure and homes.
For its part, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies will release182,500 Swiss francs (182,500 U.S. dollars / 121,833 Euros) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to support the Salvadorean Red Cross operation to bring basic assistance to 1,500 families. Relief will include hygiene articles, kitchen utensils, food, mattresses and clean water.
Ida in Nicaragua and Mexico
In Nicaragua, 2,700 families have been affected by heavy rains caused by Hurricane Ida. The Nicaraguan Red Cross (NRC) has sent staff from its branches in Bluefields and Puerto Cabezas to the affected areas. They have distributed 500 kilos of rice, 50 kilos of maize and 50 kilos of beans to 1060 families, who have been housed temporarily in shelters set up by authorities. In addition, evaluation teams of the NRC are assessing damage to infrastructure and to homes, 930 of which have been either damaged or completely destroyed.
In anticipation of the damage Ida may cause on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, the Mexican Red Cross has sent several national response teams to the states of Tabasco and Veracruz. Two truckloads of humanitarian aid have also been sent to the area, while officials opened 95 temporary shelters to accommodate people if necessary.