During the first two weeks of January 2005 heavy rains lashed the North Atlantic Coast of Costa Rica causing severe flooding in 11 cantons: Sarapiquí, Matina, Talamanca, Siquirres, Pococí, Guácimo, Limón, Paraíso, Alvarado, Turrialba and San Ramón. By 11 January more than 6,000 people had been evacuated. According to the National Emergency Commission as of 18 January, the death toll had reached five, 2,143 persons were still in temporary shelters, 5,304 houses were affected and over 7,000 hectares of cultivated land were totally inundated.

Talamanca province was the most severely affected by the flooding. Talamanca is a natural reserve populated by indigenous peoples who lives in poverty-stricken conditions, isolated from the rest of the country. Their livelihood is basically production of banana, rice and beans for their own consumption.

ACT member in Costa Rica, the Lutheran Church of Costa Rica (ILCO) has been working in the Talamanca region for more than 10 years. After the flooding, ILCO sent an assessment mission to identify the more pressing needs. They are already responding to the crisis distributing food and clothes that have been collected by the church in the country. ILCO is requesting support from the ACT Alliance to assist 200 families of the affected indigenous population in Talamanca in recovering their agriculture activities by providing :

• Banana plants, rice and beans seeds

• Training and assistance in agriculture recovery

• Training in disaster preparedness

The implementation of the activities will be monitored by the Lutheran World Federation program in El Salvador.

Project Completion Date:

31 December 2005

Total Appeal Target(s): 82,750

Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 0

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 82,750

Signed by:
Jenny Borden
Interim Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office