Amidst a global pandemic, these are challenging times for all of us. And now in a span of just two weeks, two category 5 hurricanes – Eta and Iota – devastated an entire region in Central America.
The Latin American Coordination of Rural Organizations (CLOC/La Via Campesina) has asked WhyHunger to serve as conduit to raise funds for food, mattresses, transportation and medical supplies for rural families. We promptly created this donation page for them.
Please donate. 100% of your support will be directed to the families in Central America.
Our ally social movements in the region are keeping us updated weekly with a report about the damage and what needs to be done. We are sharing this news from what communities are experiencing on the ground in the aftermath of these two powerful and debilitating storms.
Nicaragua
- The government has organized the evacuation of thousands of families from the Caribbean coast.
- There is a lot of damage to roads and highways especially in the northern Caribbean region. In the case of the municipalities Estelí and Wiwili, homes were destroyed.
- Crops that will feed families for an entire year have been lost. In some areas 60% of the bean production has been lost.
Panama
- In Panama, due to Hurricane Eta, 17 people have died; 68 are missing; and 2,500 people have been relocated to shelters. In the Province of Chiriqui, 11 million dollars in agricultural activities has been lost.
- Since Hurricane Eta made landfall, it has not stopped raining. All hydroelectric plants are running at full capacity causing flooding upstream.
- Food prices have risen.
- With regard to COVID, 1,300 people have tested positive in a single day, and the situation is expected to worsen.
Costa Rica
- The Northern and Central Pacific regions are the most affected. 26 national roads and highways have collapsed due to flooding in many parts of the country, including the highlands.
- COVID-19 is worsening because transportation of medical supplies has been affected.
Honduras
- The COVID situation in the country is dramatic. There have been over 100,000 cases, close to 1,000 deaths, and the pandemic is spreading because of the impact of the hurricanes.
- A food crisis in on the horizon. An estimated 80% of the production of corn, beans, rice, vegetables and livestock were lost. Many areas are still completely flooded.
- The government has provided little help for both the pandemic and hurricane relief.
El Salvador
- 1,193 people have been evacuated to 24 shelters. Six points along the highways have been closed and secondary roads blocked after landslides.
- 70 to 80% of crops (mostly the staple beans) have been lost.
- Prices for basic food items and medicine have increased.
Guatemala
- Peasants and Indigenous families are falling into extreme poverty with the probable result of chronic malnutrition. There has been little support from the government for rural families.
- Crops are rotting due to the abundant rain. An estimated 85% of crops (especially corn — a staple food for local families) has been lost.
- Food prices have skyrocketed.
