Tropical storms cause mudslides in Nicaragua

Five tropical storms have hit Nicaragua in the past four weeks causing heavy rains and substantial damage in the Department of Matagalpa and the North and South Atlantic Autonomous (RAAN and RAAS) regions.

The Department of Matagalpa, in the centre of the country, was the most affected. Massive mudslides in the Musun mountains swept away houses, crops and livestock belonging to the population living in the foothills. The mudslides also destroyed a vast area of forest. The Musun Macizo is a natural reserve that has suffered serious deforestation over the past years. It is estimated that around 15,000 people have been affected and the death toll has reached 25. The National Emergency committee reports that 5,020 people are sheltering in schools and churches. The situation of the affected population is precarious as all the roads have been cut off and the only access is by helicopter.

In the Atlantic region, 27 communities were affected by extensive flooding from the Prinzapolka River. Although there have not been any fatalities, vast areas of farmland have been lost and houses damaged.

ACT members in Nicaragua, the Lutheran Church (LCN) and Christian Medical Action (CMA), have been responding to the situation in co-ordination with the local emergency committees. LCN reports that in the Munsun Area, only one refuge is accessible by road where 315 people (more than half of whom are children) are crowded together in three classrooms in a school. LCN has provided food, kitchen utensils, cans for water and clothes. CMA has provided assistance to the Ministry of Health capacity assessment teams in the Prinzapolka area. They have provided medicines and fuel.

ACT Forum in Nicaragua is requesting support from the ACT CO and an RRF of around US$ 42,000 is imminent. Pending further assessment, an appeal may also be forthcoming.

The ACT CO is requesting funding agencies to indicate their possible support to this emergency.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org). Thank you.