Pacific Western Region of Nicaragua

Torrential rains have hit the Central American region. The rain started on October 10, 2007 and continued until October 15, 2007. Rainfall measured up to 15 620 millimeters per square meter in some areas, far above the average norm of 350 millimeters during this period.

The heavy rains caused the rise and overflow of rivers in many districts of the Pacific Western Region of Nicaragua. On October 12, 2007, the President of Nicaragua declared a yellow alert in the department of Chinandega and a green alert in seven other departments of the country. On October 14, 2007 a red alert was declared in the department of Chinandega on behalf of the municipal authorities, with priority in the most-affected zones, where nine of the 13 municipalities report damages by the floods. Close to 3,600 people are affected, of which 2,119 have been evacuated into temporary housing.

Members of the civil society have coordinated assessments of the situation in the affected areas. The ACT Nicaragua Forum members are actively involved in the strengthening of established needs and damage assessment mechanisms, sharing the results with the National System of Mitigation and Attention to Disasters (SINAPRED).

On October 14, 2007, a team from the ACT Nicaragua Forum visited the zone of Villa Nueva, and found the following communities affected: Matapalo, Aquespalapa, Jicote, Apacunca, Consulta, Cepa, Bonete, Lourdes, Vegas, Pimienta Vieja, Sector #4, La Flor, Los Limones, Rodeíto, Fragua, Caimito, Emmanuel, Santa Paula. Many houses are swamped by the floods. Also, villages are cut off from the main road and have minimal food and water supplies.

The ACT Nicaragua Forum through the ACT members Lutheran Church Nicaragua “Fe y Esperanza”, Center for Theological and Social Studies (CIEETS), Council of Evangelical Churches (CEPAD), and the Lutheran World Federation, plans to support rural populations in 17 communities in the municipality of Villa Nueva with food packages with possible support from the ACT Rapid Response Fund. Also, CIEETS is in direct communication with the Municipal Committee of Chinandega. If the disaster continues its dramatic course, the ACT Nicaragua Forum members consider submitting an appeal.

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