Beginning
October 15, 2007, a tropical depression caused the overflow of rivers
in El Salvador. The ACT El Salvador forum
members report that close to 500 families were evacuated from highly
vulnerable areas where the members are present.
Members
also report initial estimates of 10,000 hectares of cultivated land
being damaged and that basic crops have been affected, especially
in lowland areas, leaving the possibility of a food shortage until
the beginning of 2008.
ACT
members and their implementing partner organizations have supported
the affected families with food, psychosocial care and shelter. Most
of the evacuated families have already returned back to their homes.
However, rains are continuing and in some villages there is still
a risk of mudslides and damage to local infrastructure.
The 2007
rainy season in El Salvador has
been characterized by the presence of two hurricanes (Dean and Felix),
a tropical storm and three systems of low pressure, according to the
National Service for Territorial Studies.
The ACT
El Salvador Forum will be further assessing the situation and are
considering an appeal to support vulnerable families and subsistence
farmers through food security and agriculture assistance.
ACT
El Salvador
Forum:
Christian
Aid (CA)
Lutheran World Service (LWS)
Salvadoran Lutheran Synod (SLS)
Any funding indication or pledge should be
communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).
