Update
Intense rains in the northeastern part of Argentina have caused unprecedented
flooding of the Salado river that has severely affected the provinces
of Santa Fe, Entre Rios and Santiago del Estero. The worst hit area
was Santa Fe City being almost totally inundated by water. The official
reports indicate that 22 persons have died, 900 are missing and 125,000
evacuated. It is also reported that 24,000 houses were damaged or
destroyed and the economic losses are estimated at 100 billion dollars.
ACT member in Argentina, The Argentine Federation of Evangelical
Churches (FAIE), reports that 22 out of 182 shelters in Santa
Fe city are located in evangelical churches. The churches are providing
shelter to more than 2,500 persons and on-site assistance to many
more.
The pastoral council of Santa Fe City, which is co-ordinating the
church assistance to the affected population, reports that apart from
material assistance, pastoral counseling is being provided to the
most severely traumatized of the population who are distressed at
their losses and having to cope in an already dire economic situation.
The churches, through the FAIE have requested support from the ACT
CO to respond to the most immediate needs. The ACT CO has approved
a disbursement of U$35,800 from the Rapid Response Fund to provide
food, blankets, rubber boots and medicines to the most affected of
the population. The following are the areas where the relief assistance
will take place and the churches involved:
Santa Fe City
- Methodist Church (coordinator)
- The Salvation Army
- Pastoral Council of Santa Fe City (Baptist, Brethren, Methodist,
several Pentecostal, Salvation Army and independent churches)
- Ecumenical Movement for Human Rights (MEDH), Santa Fe
- Educative Action (Accion Educativa) an NGO
- CANOA an NGO
Province of Santa Fe
- Cities and rural areas of Esperanza, Humboldt.
- Evangelical Church of River Plate (co-ordinator)
Parana City
- Methodist Church (co-ordinator)
- Evangelical Church of River Plate
- Evangelical Pentecostal Missionary Church
La Paz: urban and rural areas
- Waldensian Church (co-ordinator)
- Caritas
- Baptist Church
The Argentine Federation of Evangelical Churches (FAIE) is
preparing an appeal for the initial rehabilitation activities for
the affected population. The ACT CO requests funding members to indicate
possible support to the proposed relief and rehabilitation activities.
