Torrential
rains sweeping over the Central American region, has been lashing
Costa Rica from 10 October 2007. After
eight days of heavy rains, the rivers in the provinces of Guanacaste
and Puntarenas have reached levels higher than is normally expected
in the Costa Rican heavy rainy season. Given the high levels of
the rivers and damage caused by the downpour, the government of
Costa Rica on 18 October 2007 declared
a national emergency for the entire country.
The
government has started fixing roads, bridges and dikes destroyed by
the floods in the province
of Guanacaste, the districts
of Parrita in the province
of Puntarenas,
as well as in the district of San Jose. The National Emergency Committee,
Comisión Nacional de Emergencias, (CNE), estimates that at least 18 people have
died, while 18,000 have been affected by the rain.
Sixty
five cantons have been placed under red and yellow alerts, in line
with the level of risk. Some 27 highways have been damaged by landslides.
In several places, sinkholes have also appeared in the roads. In total,
some 22 bridges have either collapsed or have been damaged. Overall
damage is estimated to run into the millions of dollars, with damage
to the road infrastructure, agriculture and housing set at $67.3 million
so far. Of this amount, it is estimated that damage of houses may
run to $13.5 million (1,500 houses). Some 470 hectares of rice crops
alone were flooded in Guanacaste according to the National Rice Cooperation.
Rescue
operations are underway. In an effort to assist people affected by
the floods, 28 official shelters have been opened the 1,832 people
who have been evacuated, mainly in the North Pacific (Guanacaste)
and the Central Pacific (Parrita) regions.
The
National Meteorological Institute (IMN) reports that the rains will
continue for the rest of the week, as the country is still under the
influence of a low pressure system moving slowly along the east cost
of Nicaragua.
The numbers of affected people and overall damage could still increase.
Meanwhile, a tropical storm and another low pressure system is building,
threatening more rain.
The
Lutheran Church of Costa Rica
(ILCO) and Lutheran World
Service/Costa Rica (SLMCA),
cooperating closely within the context of the local ACT Forum, are
committed to supporting their partner organization FEDEAGUA, a local
rural community-based organization whose members have been severely
affected by the floods. They will launch a
disaster response that will be supported by the LWF/DWS
Central America Program.
The
ACT members are currently carrying out a needs assessment in the Nicoya
region, especially in the most severely affected districts of Nosara,
El Torito de Sámara,
Ortega de Santa Cruz, Cañal
de Nicoya, Matina de La Mansión
de Maceo de Nicoya, and Ostional.
ACT’s disaster response is aimed at supporting
some 1,000 families in the affected and poor communities, and planned
to be funded through the RRF mechanism.
Any funding indication or pledge should be
communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).
