CERF allocates $ 2.5 million to support victims of Hurricane Ida in El Salvador
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Young UNICEF reporters in El Salvador
[Photo: UNICEF] |
19 November 2009: To provide emergency assistance to Hurricane Ida’s victims, CERF allocated $1.5 million to humanitarian agencies in El Salvador.
The combined effect of Hurricane Ida and a low pressure system off the Pacific Coast lead to unprecedented heavy rainfalls, causing severe flooding and landslides in many parts of the country. In just a few hours, 355mm of rainfall was registered, compared to the 400mm registered during 4 days of Hurricane Mitch.
An estimated 2,000 homes, 117 schools, 25 health facilities and 37 bridges have been damaged or destroyed. This represents about 12 percent of the Salvadoran territory.
Approximately 15,000 people are currently living in collective centres. The official number of missing persons is 80 and 189 people are reported dead, although reports from municipalities and ongoing field assessments suggest this number may be higher.
Responding to this situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) will use $593,000 to provide emergency health service and restore water and sanitation infrastructure for 75,000 affected people. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has received $530,000 to provide shelter for 356 families. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will use $426,000 to provide immediate attention, psychological support, and water, hygiene and sanitation support to affected populations. The World Food Programme (WFP) will use $423,000 to provide emergency food assistance to 25,000 people in communities and 6,000 vulnerable groups. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been allocated $292,000 to assist re-establish food production and the livelihoods of 2,875 vulnerable families affected by the hurricane. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will use $120,000 to restore and strengthen the capacity of the local primary health system to provide emergency reproductive health services, which will benefit 17,500 women of reproductive age and their families and 7,500 adolescents. The International Organization of Migration (IOM) has been allocated $100,000 to improve management of temporary living centres and provide shelter kids.
[Last Update:30 November 2009]