---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 06:39:07 -0500 (EST)
From: Nancy Krieger <[log in to unmask]>
To: Spirit of 1848 <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: nancy krieger <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: mitch (fwd)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 10:07:30 -0100
From: Carlos Alvarez-Dardet <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: mitch
During the last week the full force of Hurricane "Mitch", was felt
throughout the Central American region, particularly in Honduras and
Nicaragua. Nicaragua was one of the countries most devastated by the
disaster. To date, approximately 4,000 deaths have been verified, with at
least 1500 people missing and more than 500,000 people left homeless,
among which about 170,000 are children. These figures are likely to be
under-estimates, as it will be weeks before the full extent of the damage
will be known. M ost of the people affected by the disaster are completely
isolated, lacking food, shelter and basic services such as safe water,
latrine and electricity. Public health experts foresee a dramatic increase
in respiratory and diarrhoeal disease in the coming weeks, as well as
malaria and dengue. The fact that 70% of Nicaragua's population is lives
in poverty, with as much as 30% illiteracy in some areas, only increases
the precariousness of the situation. This is a call to public health
professionals to help provide disaster relief to the Nicaraguan people.
Contributions may be made through the following channel:
http://www.unanleon.edu.ni/unanleon/mitch/huracan.htm
or by collaborating through the various solidarity committees on your own
country.
Dpto of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Leon University.
Carlos Alvarez-Dardet Editor,
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Departamento de Salud Publica.
Edificio de Ciencias Sociales Campus de San Vicente.
Universidad de Alicante Apdo 99, E-03080 Alicante,
Spain
tel 34 96 5903918
Fax 34 96 5903964
Please visit our web page. http//:www.jech.com
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|