The Nica Report!

The on-line journal of journey to Nicaragua and back — May 2004

4.08.2004

2004 - Disaster!

In October 1998, Hurricane Mitch ravaged the country of Nicaragua. For a period of ten days, Nicaragua was bombarded with torrential rains that produced landslides and floods effectively destroying crops, livestock, dwellings, roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, electrical and water supply systems.

Hurricane Mitch was the most devastating natural disaster in Nicaragua’s history. An estimated 3,800 Nicaraguans lost their lives and 800,000—18% of the population—were left homeless.

Prior to Hurricane Mitch, Nicaragua was already among the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere. In 1997 it was estimated that 47% of Nicaraguans lived below the poverty line. The hurricane exacerbated this situation. The future was bleak for the homeless families struggling to survive.

In the Nicaraguan city of Leon, the staff of Mercy Ships Nicaragua also experienced the fury of Hurricane Mitch. Those of us throughout the world that were in contact with the base anxiously read firsthand e-mail reports of the devastation. Mercifully, the base and staff of Mercy Ships Nicaragua were not severly affected by the hurricane and were therefore available to begin immediate relief efforts in tandem with other community and international organizations.

Since the destruction of Hurricane Mitch in October of 1998, Mercy Ships Nicaragua has been effective in procuring and distributing over 285 tons of food, four tons of clothing and over $250,000 (US) worth of medicine and medical supplies to nearly 110,000 people per year for two years. They have also been instrumental in the decontamination of an estimated 1,500 drinking water wells that were contaminated during the devastating flooding.

Although the staff of Mercy Ships Nicaragua remain 'positioned' for relief work, their emphasis since early 1999 has been on longer term developmental transformation of rural Nicaragua. Today, their efforts are primarily focused on three communities of hurricane refugees for whom they have helped to relocate, acquire land and construct new homes. Current efforts are toward the economic, agricultural and educational development of these three communities.

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