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ACT Appeal El Salvador: Rehabilitation Assistance to Flood Affected LASA 51

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Appeal Target: US$ 62,368

Geneva, 7 June 2005

Dear Colleagues,

Tropical Storm ''Adrian'' struck El Salvador on 19 May with winds of up to 150 k/h according to the National Service for Terrestrial Studies (SNET) of El Salvador and the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Waves along the eastern coast of the country increased by 4 - 6 meters above their normal size.

Strong to moderate rains fell across the entire country, especially in the east while strong winds were felt on higher grounds. Tropical Storm "Adrian" reached hurricane force but lost momentum before it hit the Acajutla port area and El Salvador's International Airport (Pacific). The tropical storm moved over the surrounding areas of the Cerrón Grande water dam located 60 kms north west of San Salvador and moved towards Honduran territory reaching La Ceiba in the Atlantic coast of Honduras in the form of a tropical depression. The storm caused the evacuation of 22,000 people to avoid the threat of mudslides and floods. Flooding occurred in the eastern part of the country due to a discharge of water from a reservoir used for generating electricity.

ACT members in El Salvador, Christian Aid (CAID), Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) and the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod (SLS), co-ordinated through the El Salvador ACT Forum, formed various co-ordination committees for logistics, inter-institutional relations and communication. They are proposing assistance to affected families through:

  • Food and non food relief assistance
  • Psychosocial assistance
  • Environmental sanitation
  • Disaster preparedness training and provision of supplies.


Project Completion Date: 30 November 2005

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested US$

US$
Total Appeal Target(s)
62,368
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.
Balance Requested from ACT Alliance
62,368

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar
Account Number - 240-432629.60A
IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro
Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z
IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together

UBS AG
8, rue du Rhône
P.O. Box 2600
1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND
Swift address: UBSW CHZH12A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (direct tel. +4122/791.60.38, e-mail address jkg@act-intl.org) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

For further information please contact:

ACT Director, White Rakuba (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or

ACT Program Officer, Elsa Moreno, (phone +41 22 791 6420 or mobile phone +41 79 608 8133)

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org

White Rakuba
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office

I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER INFORMATION

ACT El Salvador: The ACT Forum in El Salvador was formed in September 2002. It currently comprises the following ACT members:

  • Christian Aid (CAID) El Salvador
  • Lutheran World Federation (LWF) El Salvador Program
  • Presbyterian Disaster Relief (PDA) Regional office
  • Salvadoran Lutheran Synod (SLS)

II. IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER & PARTNER INFORMATION

Lutheran World Federation (LWF). LWF, as the current co-ordinating agency of the ACT Forum in El Salvador, will be responsible for the implementation of the proposal. The ACT forum has requested co-ordination with the following organizations:

ABRAZO, organisation from the evangelical churches working in emergency response.

UNES, Unidad Ecologica salvadoreña, organisation working in risk management.

The Lutheran World Federation / Department for World Service has been working in El Salvador since 1983. It provided humanitarian assistance to the Salvadoran population following the 1986 earthquake. The overall goal of the LWF program in El Salvador is to implement and support reconstruction activities, including those related to Hurricane Mitch, which affected the Central American region at the end of 1998. Its objectives include activities supporting reconciliation, democratisation and the strengthening of civil society.

The LWF program in El Salvador has comprehensive experience in such assistance activities beginning with Hurricane Mitch, and through the processes developed responding to the dengue epidemic emergency and the emergency activities following the earthquakes in 2001.

III. DESCRIPTION of the EMERGENCY SITUATION

Category 1 Hurricane ''Adrian'' struck El Salvador on 19 May with winds of up to 150 k/h according to the National Service for Terrestrial Studies (SNET) of El Salvador and the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Waves along the eastern coast of the country increased by 4 - 6 meters above their normal size.

Strong to moderate rains fell across the entire country, especially in the east while strong winds were felt on higher grounds. A dense cloud of fog still covers the country and visibility is significantly low, according to SNET.

Hurricane Adrian lost momentum and became a tropical storm once it entered El Salvador over the Acajutla port area and El Salvador's International Airport (Pacific). The tropical storm moved over the surrounding areas of the Cerrón Grande water dam located 60 kms north west of San Salvador and advanced towards Honduran territory reaching La Ceiba in the Atlantic coast of Honduras in the form of a tropical depression.

The hurricane was considered by SNET as an "atypical phenomenon" and did not produce the strong storms forecast for El Salvador and other countries in the Central American Isthmus.

For some days afterwards clouds continued to cover a huge part of the country generating moderate to heavy rains over the whole country.

The storm caused the evacuation of 22,000 people to safe areas (free from the threat of mudslides and floods).

Flooding occurred in the eastern part of the country due to discharge of water from a reservoir used for generating electricity.

IV. DESCRIPTION of the SITUATION in the AREA of PROPOSED RESPONSE

The National ACT network has formed various committees for co-ordination, logistics, inter-institutional relations and communication. Participants include the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod, Christian Aid, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Salvadoran Ecological Unit, Abrazo Network and Lutheran World Federation.

This network enables presence across a large area of the most vulnerable parts of the country.

Cara Sucia

An ACT Emergency Committee was established in Cara Sucia, in the south-eastern part of the country in the Department of Ahuachapán, together with the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod, Salvadoran Ecological Unit and the Lutheran World Federation who have co-ordinated activities with agencies such as World Vision and the municipality to develop preventive activities.

200 of a total of 2,000 inhabitants in the most vulnerable areas were evacuated from the Barra de Santiago. The majority did not want to leave their homes for fear their belongings would not be secure. Consequently, the majority of people evacuated were women and children leaving men behind to look after their property. These families have returned to their communities to carry out cleaning and community health activities. Most of the communities still have problems because some of the settlements and agricultural areas remain flooded.

The Cara Sucia Community Radio station played the main role of informing the local population about Adrian's progress. In fact all the activities in the area were co-ordinated through the Radio. The Radio operates in emergency situations using an electrical generator - property of ARPAS (communities Radio network)

Santa Catarina Masahuat

370 persons of a total population of 1,000 were evacuated from Santa Catarina Masahuat in the western part of the country in the Department of Sonsonate under the co-ordination of the City Hall and Catholic Church. Affected communities include: Santa Rosa, Santa Anita, Santa Rita and Nuevo Asentamiento.

These families have since returned to their homes but they still have much work ahead due to the mud left after the rains and humidity caused by the continual rains.

Since the 2001 earthquake the government and humanitarian organisations consider this a high risk area threatened by floods and landslides destroying settlements, agricultural production and blocking access by road.

The previous risk management activities such as early warnings and the risk mapping were very useful in protecting life and planning the evacuation of the population.

Puerto Parada

400 out of 500 families earning their living by traditional fishing and harvesting of shell fish were evacuated from the south eastern part of the country, specifically Puerto Parada and Jucuarán, department of Usulután. These people are currently living in shelters that no longer receive government aid due to the absence of a state of emergency. These people cannot return to their homes and livelihood as their communities remain flooded.

The main problems faced by these people are:

- They must return to areas that are extremely vulnerable and at imminent risk.

- They have also lost their possessions and equipment for making a livelihood.

- Many suffer from depression, nervous breakdowns and violence.

- Due to the continual rains there is a problem of humidity and propensity to infection as a result. It is imperative that there is a general cleaning up of the environment of the affected communities to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases and malaria.

V. TARGETED BENEFICIARIES

- 200 fisher families from two communities that are unable to return to their communities and livelihood in the near future.

- 1,000 families in 15 rural communities presenting health problems due to the flood waters.

- 750 adults, youngsters and children from 15 rural communities showing symptoms of trauma.

Criteria for selection

  • Affected female headed families headed.
  • Affected families with large number of members
  • Affected families with children and/or elderly persons.
  • Affected families with disabled persons
  • Families who have not yet received help
  • Affected families who reside in remote and difficult-to-access locations

VI. PROPOSED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE & IMPLEMENTATION

Goal:

To provide life-sustaining assistance and food security to the most vulnerable families in 15 rural communities affected by floods caused by tropical storm Adrian as well as prepare for the hurricane season of 2005

Objectives:

- Provide food aid to 200 artisan fishing and shellfish harvester families (food for work)

- Provide psycho-social aid to 750 persons in 15 rural communities

- Provide assistance to 15 rural communities to clean up their environment and prevent outbreak of water borne diseases.

- Capacity building in Disaster Prevention Activities

- Strengthening the Cara Sucia early warning system.

Food for work

Provide food packages, utensils and medicines to 200 families who lost their possessions and equipment in the coastal area of the department of Usulután, in Puerto Parada and Jucuarán. These activities will be co-ordinated by the LWF and UNES. The families will clear the mud and participate in the clean up campaigns.

Psycho-social Assistance

This will be provided in 15 rural communities in the south western areas of Cara Sucia and its surroundings, as well as in the south eastern areas of Jucuarán and Puerto Parada and the central part of the country, south of Paz, San Vicente and Soyapango. The assistance will comprise group therapy and play activities. Due to the reticent of the adults to participate in this type of activities the "play" methodology has been very successful to engage them in the process. These activities will be co-ordinated by the Lutheran Church and PDA

Environmental Sanitation

Support will be provided to 15 rural communities in carrying out environmental activities, mainly related to removing and drying mud, as well as checking the proliferation of mosquitoes and other pests. The campaigns include organization of the communities, training on environmental sanitation and community activities to clean the mud and any other source of water bone diseases. These activities will be co-ordinated by the Lutheran Church in Cara Sucia and surrounding areas, as well as in south Usulután and La Paz.

Strengthening of Disaster Prevention Activities

This comprises two components:

- Purchase of mattresses, gas lamps, durable first aid kits and bed sheets for 200 families so that future evacuations are more effective. These will be stored in the Disaster Prevention Center in Cara Sucia, inside the Lutheran Church warehouses in San Salvador and Abrazo. It is estimated that 15 hurricanes will form during this year's hurricane season.

- Additional to the provision of stocks and the training in disaster preparedness and prevention, the communities will be supported to strengthen the local early warning systems and advocacy activities regarding a more active response from the government to the disaster prevention. This activity will be co-ordinated by PDA, CAID and LWF.

Strength Cara Sucia's early warning system

Procurement of a mobile electric generator and checking all electrical devices and connections to ensure that the role of the Cara Sucia radio stations is ensured in the local disaster prevention system. A network of volunteers will also be set up.

Implementation Methodology

The general co-ordination will be the responsibility of the LWF, but each member of the ACT El Salvador Network will be responsible for their own activities.

Implementation Timetable

Six months, from June to November 2005.


Schedule of Activities
Description
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Crisis Phase
Food for Work
Food Packages and medications
x
Post Crisis Phase
Psycho-social Assistance
Group workshops
x
x
x
x
x
Play activities
x
x
x
x
x
Environmental sanitation and control of vectors
Cleaning campaigns
x
x
x
x
x
Training workshops
x
x
x
x
Social strengthening in disaster prevention activities
Procurement of supplies
x
Preparation of places
x
x
x
x
x
Reinforced Local Systems
x
x
x
x
x
Social support and mobilization
x
x
x
x
x
Strength Cara Sucia alert System.
Procurement of supplies & maintenance
x
x
x
x
x
Training workshops
x
x
x
x
x

VII. ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE

LWF has comprehensive experience in planning, implementing and monitoring relief and rehabilitation projects. It has a well-established internal administration, personnel, financial and material management as well as reporting systems. The LWF head office in San Salvador will be responsible for the overall administration of the project. The Head office will be responsible for sending both financial and narrative reports to Geneva as requested in the ACT guidelines.

VIII. MONITORING, REPORTING & EVALUATIONS

LWF personnel will carry out general monitoring of the relief program and will guide the whole process of relief and distribution in the project areas.

The project has two mechanisms for evaluation:

- Evaluation during the implementation period, involving the active participation of the communities.

- Final evaluation will be carried out at the end of the project and active participation of the communities/beneficiaries will be promoted.

Reporting Schedule

Interim narrative and financial reports due at ACT CO by 15 September 2005 i.e. within one month following mid-term of project.

Final narrative and financial reports due at ACT CO by 15 January 2006 i.e. within two months of end of project.

IX. CO-ORDINATION

The LWF approach is to encourage all organisations concerned along with the communities and local authorities to act in solidarity and co-ordinate the activities to avoid duplication and to use resources efficiently and effectively. This increases accountability and transparency and promotes community empowerment. LWF co-ordinates regularly with local authorities, UN organizations (UNDP and WFP), such Governmental bodies suchas the National Emergency Committee, Ministries of Education, Environment and Health, as well as with other international NGOs.

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