Appeal Target: US$ 1,031,365

Balance requested: US$ 730,720

Hurricane Felix hit on 4 September 2007 the North Atlantic Autonomous Region of Nicaragua (RAAN) causing the biggest disaster since the Hurricane Mitch in 1998. According to the Nicaraguan Army (10 September), 162,373 people were reported affected, 67 people dead, 110 missing and 136 rescued alive. 14,000 people sought refuge in shelters in the port town of Puerto Cabezas (Bilwi). About 80% of the community infrastructure was destroyed, agricultural land were flooded and crops devastated.

The impacted region has a territorial size of 32,000 sq. km with a total population of some 314,000, mainly Miskitos and Mayagnas people. The region is one of the poorest of the country: the vast majority of people live under the poverty threshold, social and economic infrastructure is in an appalling state. Most of the communities live in remote areas that are extremely vulnerable to natural disasters.

In the majority of communities, water wells were contaminated, latrines were flooded, health centers and community houses were destroyed, houses were either damaged or totally destroyed and crops were completely lost. In the Tasba Pri district, wells and rivers have been contaminated by poisonous metallic residues (mercury, cadmium and cyanine) from the mining industry which threatens the immediate health situation and people already suffer from acute diarrhoea, skin infections and fungi.

The ACT members Christian Medical Action (AMC), Interchurch Center for Theological and Social Studies (CIEETS), Council of Evangelical Churches (CEPAD), the Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope (ILFE) have assessed the damages in three zones of the affected region: Tasba Pri, Llano Norte de Puerto Cabezas and Tasba Raya. The loss of lives is particularly high in Tasba Pri where more than 60 people were reported killed, 423 missing and 123 wounded. The damages to housing and agriculture are tremendous, with up to 80% of the total infrastructure and harvests devastated. The very poor communities are cut off from roads. The population has no access to clean water and is threatened with water borne diseases. A large number of people suffer from psychological trauma, since the disaster has hit them without any precaution.

The ACT members have started relief assistance with a fund advance from the ACT Rapid Response Mechanism and plan to assist 21 communities in the affected areas of Tasba Pri, Llano Norte de Puerto Cabezas and Tasba Raya with the supply of food, personal hygienic kits, and safe water. They will also rehabilitate roofs, support planting trees and vegetables and provide psychosocial care. The members will also support the communities in measures of disaster preparedness.

Christian Medical Action (AMC) is planning to supply  1,350 families in 10 communities. The Interchurch Center for Theological and Social Studies (CIEETS) intends to deliver humanitarian assistance to 550 families in 7 communities in Tasba Raya. The Council of Evangelical Churches (CEPAD) will assist about 250 families in four communities in the region of Bilwi (Puerta Cabezas). The Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope (ILFE) will be in charge of coordinating the overall response and be responsible for reporting to the ACT CO. ILFE together with CEPAD will also be in charge of extending psycho-social care to those members of the communities who were most severely hit and lost family members.

Project Completion Date: 30 September 2008

Reporting schedule: 

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested (US$):

Total Appeal Target(s): 1,031,365
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 300,645

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 730,720

Signed by:

John Nduna
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office