Details of Payment 

Emergency: Heavy rains and flooding in Pacific provinces of Nicaragua

Date of Emergency: 15 October 2007

Implementing Members: The Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope (ILFE), Lutheran World Federation, Council of Evangelical Churches (CEPAD) and Interchurch Center for Theological and Social Studies (CIEETS).

Details of the Emergency: Torrential rains hit the Central American region. The rain started on October 10, 2007 and continued until 15 October 2007. Rainfall has 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 12 October 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 14 October 2007, a red alert was declared in the department of Chinandega on behalf of the municipal authorities, where nine of the 13 municipalities report damages due to the floods. Close to 3,600 people were affected, with 2,119 evacuated to temporary housing.

On 14 October 2007, a team from the ACT Nicaragua Forum visited the zone of Villa Nueva, and found the following affected communities: 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 were cut off from the main roads with minimal food and water supplies.

Purpose of Response: The rapid response aims to provide the affected families in 17 communities with basic food supplies. An assessment of the damage and needs for further actions will also take place.

Beneficiary information and location of response: Priority will be placed on 17 affected communities of the municipality of Villa Nueva, where four members of the ACT Nicaragua forum have a presence. The municipality of Villa Nueva is located 186 km from Managua, on the western side of the country. It has a population of 31,000 people of which 16.8% live in urban sectors and 83.2% in rural areas. 

Implementation

The rapid response entails the supply of basic food to 340 families in the municipality of Villa Nueva.  The ACT members will buy food items on the local market  and in adherence to the ACT procurement policy. The members will ensure that the distribution of food item will be done in line with the Sphere Standards and the Code of Conduct.

In addition, a team of eight people from the ACT members will undertake a damage and needs assessment in 53 communities in the area of Villa Nueva and Somotillo in Chinandega and San Francisco Libre, department of Managua. The assessment will be the basis for an ACT appeal.

The four implementing ACT members will share the responsibility for the execution of the response and each one of them will appoint a liaison officer to coordinate the response. Each members will regularly monitor and report on the implementation of the activities in line with a work plan to be set up.

The Lutheran Church (ILFE), through its ACT Forum coordinator and financial officer, will be in charge of the overall monitoring and reporting to the ACT Coordination Office.  Funds will be transferred to the accounts of ILFE. ILFE will make due arrangements with the implementing members in order for the monitoring and reporting to be done in accordance with ACT requirements and policies. The ACT members will sign a Memorandum of Understanding for their respective roles and duties in relation to the implementation, monitoring and reporting of their activities.

In order to facilitate the delivery of assistance, administration and monitoring costs will be covered by the members operating budgets. Should an appeal be issued, these costs will be recovered in the budget of the appeal.

Implementation period: 3 months: October 30, 2007 to January 30, 2008.

BUDGET

Exchange Rate:  US$ 1 = 18.7 Nicaraguan Cordobas (C$)

ACTION

The ACT Coordinating Office  has approved the use of  US$ 50,000 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment.