>NATIONAL EMERGENCY AS HURRICANE MITCH
>DEVASTATES NICARAGUA
>APPEAL FOR RELIEF FUNDS & DEBT CANCELLATION
>
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>The full extent of the catastrophe caused by Hurricane Mitch in Central
>America is still unfolding: at least 7,000 people have died and 3 million
>people are homeless, 10 per cent of the population. The Hurricane came to
>a standstill over the region dumping 34 inches (850mm) of rain in the last
>five days of October.
>
>In Nicaragua, the Hurricane has left more dead, wounded and displaced and
>caused greater economic loss than any natural disaster in Nicaraguan
>history with the exception of the 1972 earthquake.
>
>· At least 2,500 have died, the majority in the north west where four
>communities with a total population of 2,000 were completely buried by a 30
>square mile land slide of mud and volcanic sand as a crater lake in the
>Volcano Las Casitas overflowed.
>
>· Half a million people (1/8th of the population) are homeless. With
>bodies rotting in the open air and water supplies contaminated, fears are
>growing of epidemics including malaria and cholera.
>
>· 1,500km of roads have become impassable causing severe problems in
>getting desperately
>needed supplies food and medical supplies to the survivors.
>
>· 80% of agricultural production has been lost - emergency food supplies
>will be vital in the coming months to avert widespread hunger.
>
>The situation in the department of Matagalpa is typical of the problems
>that communities face. Community Movement departmental co-ordinator Sergio
>Saenz writes:
>'I am writing this afternoon with the greatest sadness I have experienced
>in my life. The effects of Hurricane Mitch on Matagalpa are tremendous, I
>don't have the words to describe it, only to tell you that the Rio Grande
>has broken its banks and flooded entire communities. In the town whole
>streets have disappeared and entire suburbs have been evacuated because
>hundreds of families have lost their houses. Crops have been completely
>destroyed. The needs are enormous …we have set up four refuges for more
>than 800 people'.
>
>Amidst the horror there is a growing anger at the ineptitude of the Aleman
>government response. Despite the scale of the disaster Aleman refused to
>call a state of emergency claiming that non governmental organisations
>would take advantage of the situation and insisting that all international
>aid must be channelled through the government. In addition, the government
>has also refused medical aid from Cuba.
>
>What You Can Do
>
>· Send a donation to NSC. We are appealing for funds for the work of the
>Nicaragua Community Movement (MCN), a national movement of neighbourhood
>organisations working with other local organisations to provide 6,000
>refugees with food, clothing and medicines, to organise a self build
>housing programme and to mobilise the population to prevent the spread of
>disease.
>Cheques payable to 'NSC (Hurricane).'
>
>· Write a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair, 10 Downing St, London SW1
>calling for the debt cancellation. Even before this catastrophe the
>external debt of Nicaragua ($6.1 billion) and Honduras ($4.5 billion) was
>unpayable and unsustainable. A major contribution the international
>community could make to helping the poor majority to rebuild their lives is
>an early cancellation of these debts.
>
>· International Health Exchange urgently needs Spanish speaking health
>workers with previous overseas experience to work in Central America.
>Details:IHE,8-10 Dryden St, WC2 Tel:0171 836 5833
>
>· Copy and distribute this appeal as widely as possible.
>
>Further information and donations: Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, 129 Seven
>Sisters Rd, London N7 7QG Tel:0171 272 9619 Email:[log in to unmask]
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>Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign
>129 Seven Sisters Rd
>London, N7 7QG
>
>tel: 0171 272 9619
>fax: 0171 272 5476
>email: [log in to unmask]
>Web Site http://www.gn.apc.org/nsc
>
-
Dr. Ed Brown
Department of Geography,
Loughborough University,
Leicestershire,
LE11 3TU, UK.
E-Mail ([log in to unmask])
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