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Posted on Sat, Oct. 15, 2005
VERBATIM
After Hurricane Stan
Below are excerpts from a U.N. World Food Program statement released
on Wednesday.
With the full picture of devastation in the wake of Hurricane Stan
yet to emerge across Central America, WFP is providing urgently needed
food to assist thousands of affected families in Guatemala. Torrential
rains and ensuing landslides have swallowed up villages in the Guatemalan
highlands, causing large-scale death and destruction. Two entire villages
have been declared mass graves after digging for bodies had to be
abandoned, due to dangerous conditions.
With around 650 people confirmed dead, the toll is bound to rise as
many areas have not been reached because of widespread damage to roads and
bridges. The continuing bad weather, while hampering relief efforts, could
also threaten more havoc.
A first delivery of five metric tons of High Energy Biscuits is
being airlifted to the most isolated areas through the National
Coordinating Committee for Disaster Reduction. A further three tons are
being sent to Guatemala today with air support provided by the Honduran
government.
This is in addition to WFP family rations of maize, beans, corn-soya
blend and vegetable oil. With low clouds preventing aircraft from flying
to precarious hillside communities, the main problem has been access to
the region's poorest.
Among the indigenous Mayan people, chronic malnutrition rates
already exceed the national average of 49.3 percent -- the sixth highest
rate in the world.
''Food assistance is vital to avoid further deterioration of the
nutritional situation of these vulnerable families, especially in a
country where one in two infants suffers from chronic malnutrition and is
at high risk of sickness and death,'' said Guillermina Segura, WFP Country
Director in Guatemala.
Within the current relief and recovery operation, WFP has provided
the government with 1,600 tons of food -- enough to feed some 70,000
families for one week. However, food-aid needs are expected to increase
beyond current in-country stocks.
The United Nations launched a flash appeal last weekend seeking $22
million to provide food, shelter, water and sanitation to the victims in
Guatemala. Of this, a provisional $6.9 million is destined for WFP,
pending continuing food needs assessments.
Isolated communities
In neighboring El Salvador, some 70,000 people have been evacuated
to over 600 shelters following the combined effects of widespread flooding
and the earlier eruption of the volcano Santa Ana. Confirmed deaths are 74
(two due to the volcanic eruption). Renewed heavy rain -- last week's
rainfall was 10 times the monthly average -- has resulted in more
flooding.
Coastal areas in Ahuachapan, Sonsonate, La Paz, San Vicente and
Usulutan remain flooded, and saturated soil has increased the risk of
further landslides. In coordination with the government, WFP has so far
dispatched 304 metric tons to 77,000 beneficiaries in shelters and
affected communities. Rations of cereals (maize and rice), highly
nutritious corn-soya blend and vegetable oil have been provided.
WFP has also been reaching isolated communities, particularly on the
Island of San Sebastian, Usulutan in River Lempa delta, with support from
the Salvadoran Navy.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/12908010.htm
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