Preliminary Appeal
Honduras
Rehabilitation in rural communities affected by earthquake - HND092
Appeal Target: US$ 300,808
Geneva, 5 June 2009
On 28 May 2009, an earthquake of the magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale struck Honduras on its Atlantic coast. The most affected regions are the Bahía islands (Roatán, Guanaja and Utila), the harbor towns of La Ceiba, Trujillo and Puerto Cortés and the valley of Sula. Other parts of the country were affected due to reactivation of geological faults. In the Departments of Santa Bárbara, Cortes and Yoro, the government disaster response agency COPECO reports a total of seven deaths including three children, 17 persons injured, 132 houses destroyed and 409 damaged. Bridges and public infrastructure were damaged, including roads, water system and electricity lines. Communications were also affected.
On 29 May, COPECO together with Bolsa Samaritana and supportive families have distributed immediate humanitarian assistance to the affected persons, including tents for temporary shelter and food. In some locations, school was suspended as a preventive measure. The Ministry of Health is monitoring the risk of epidemiologic outbreak, in particular where water is lacking.
The ACT Forum in Honduras supported the municipal and local infrastructures (CODEM and CODEL) in the damage evaluation and needs assessment, which were made particularly difficult by the interruption of communication services and electricity lines. It also worked with its own partners in order to assess the damage and needs as accurately as possible. Among the most important needs are the reconstruction and repair of houses and psychosocial support to help the affected population to resume a normal life.
ACT members involved are the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), as the appeal requesting member, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA-Nicaragua) and Christian Aid (CAID). Implementing ACT partners are: Organismo Cristiano de Desarrollo Integral de Honduras (OCDIH) and Comisión de Acción Social Menonita (CASM). They plan to support 146 families in the municipalities of Puerto Cortes (Dpt of Cortes) and Chinda (Dpt of Santa Barbara) with psycho-social care and assistance to rebuilding their houses.
The ACT members are also in contact with the organization CEPUDO, a partner of the North American organization Food for the Poor. CEPUDO has had many projects focusing on the construction of houses.
Project Completion Date: 31 May 2010
Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested:
Appeal Target (USD): 300,808
Less: Pledges/Contr Recd: 0
Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 300,808
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: UBSWCHZH80A
Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Officer, Michael Zschiegner (mzs@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.
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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.
The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Men transport their belongings at El Peru neighborhood in Puerto Cortes, May 29, 2009. A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook Honduras on Thursday, killing at least six people, knocking down flimsy ...
