Children need help in Nicaragua NOW
An estimated 90% of homes in Bilwi lost their roofs. According to government reports, Hurricane Felix has caused more devastation than 1998's Hurricane Mitch.
September 12, 2007
Last Wednesday morning, the children along the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua emerged from government provided hurricane shelters to gaze in astonishment at the total wreckage of their communities.
Hurricane Felix had roared through. More than 162,000 people were affected, and more than 12,300 were evacuated from their homes.
In position to respond immediately, Plan has—from the start—been coordinating with Nicaragua’s National Disaster Prevention System (SINAPRED) and the Civil Defence to provide emergency food, including beans, rice, sugar, milk and oil, as well as clothing, blankets and toys for children. Our efforts are helping ensure that the immediate needs of over 30,000 children and families in Nicaragua are being met.
The poor were hit hardest
The totality of the destruction from the Category 5 hurricane is overwhelming. More than 90 percent of the buildings in the area are destroyed beyond repair, including schools, health posts, churches, government offices—and homes.
Nearly 8,000 homes are completely flattened. The loss of homes among the very poorest, many of whom live closest to the water, is nearly 100 percent.
Children suffer most
Plan’s interventions are giving special emphasis to the safety and well-being of children—distinct from the generalized tendency to treat the affected population as one without attending to particularities that guarantee the protection and rights of children.
As part of tailoring a better child-focused response, Plan is already providing child appropriate foods (e.g. milk and crackers), non-food items (e.g. medicines, diapers, bottles and toys) and attention.
What can you do?
With your help Plan can continue working with Nicaraguan communities to meet the immediate and long-term needs of those most affected. More than half are children.
Relief activities will transition into larger-scale and longer-term recovery, reconstruction and risk reduction programs, including projects in food security and livelihood, water and sanitation, disaster preparedness, reconstruction of school, and permanent shelter for affected families.
The immediate needs remain food, water, sanitation and medicines in the shelters. Longer-term goals include the rebuilding of homes, schools and health clinics, safe, reliable drinking water and sanitation, replacement of crops and farm animals, as well as farming and fishing equipment, that were lost in the storm.
Donate today to Plan's Disaster Relief and Recovery fund. Your support enables us to respond quickly and effectively to help children and families affected by disasters and crises. Thank you.
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Hurricane Felix had roared through. More than 162,000 people were affected, and more than 12,300 were evacuated from their homes.
In position to respond immediately, Plan has—from the start—been coordinating with Nicaragua’s National Disaster Prevention System (SINAPRED) and the Civil Defence to provide emergency food, including beans, rice, sugar, milk and oil, as well as clothing, blankets and toys for children. Our efforts are helping ensure that the immediate needs of over 30,000 children and families in Nicaragua are being met.
The poor were hit hardest
The totality of the destruction from the Category 5 hurricane is overwhelming. More than 90 percent of the buildings in the area are destroyed beyond repair, including schools, health posts, churches, government offices—and homes.
Nearly 8,000 homes are completely flattened. The loss of homes among the very poorest, many of whom live closest to the water, is nearly 100 percent.
Children suffer most
Plan’s interventions are giving special emphasis to the safety and well-being of children—distinct from the generalized tendency to treat the affected population as one without attending to particularities that guarantee the protection and rights of children.
As part of tailoring a better child-focused response, Plan is already providing child appropriate foods (e.g. milk and crackers), non-food items (e.g. medicines, diapers, bottles and toys) and attention.
What can you do?
With your help Plan can continue working with Nicaraguan communities to meet the immediate and long-term needs of those most affected. More than half are children.
Relief activities will transition into larger-scale and longer-term recovery, reconstruction and risk reduction programs, including projects in food security and livelihood, water and sanitation, disaster preparedness, reconstruction of school, and permanent shelter for affected families.
The immediate needs remain food, water, sanitation and medicines in the shelters. Longer-term goals include the rebuilding of homes, schools and health clinics, safe, reliable drinking water and sanitation, replacement of crops and farm animals, as well as farming and fishing equipment, that were lost in the storm.
Donate today to Plan's Disaster Relief and Recovery fund. Your support enables us to respond quickly and effectively to help children and families affected by disasters and crises. Thank you.
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