Nicaragua Flooding Response

The Situation:

On September 24, Tropical Storm Matthew hit the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. Compounded by a rainy season that has seen a succession of severe weather events, producing accumulated rainfall amounts that have left the ground at its saturation point, the days of continuous rains, flooding and landslides damages highways, bridges, homes and crops. On September 27, the Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies reported that the water level in Lake Managua had risen 42.2 meters. Thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes and more than 250 communities been affected and cut off as a result of collapsed bridges and destroyed roads.

Causing additional fear and anxiety, the second planting season for peasant farmers occurs in September. Due to the torrential rains and flooding that occurred in the wake of Tropical Storm Matthew, seeds that were just planted to produce the second harvest will also be lost, contributing to an even more severe food crisis for farmers and the Nicaraguan population as a whole.

ELCA Response:

The ELCA is supporting a multi-lateral response to this disaster through the Action by Churches Together (ACT) forum in Nicaragua. In coordination with municipal and local committees, humanitarian assistance is being provided to 675 familes from 18 communities. Planned assistance includes basic food provisions, medicine and personal hygiene kits as well as other non-food items particularly for families who have been forced from their homes.

The ELCA, with generous support from the South Dakota Synod, is also supporting the complementary relief and recovery efforts of the Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope in Nicaragua in 14 other localities where an additional 544 families have suffered flood damage and crop losses.

Read more detailed Situation Reports:
Situation Report #1 - 10/8/2010

What you can do:

Pray:

Download prayers, litanies, prayer petitions, and suggested hymns and songs for use in worship with your congregation as a way of remembering those affected by these and other natural disasters, or in your personal devotions.

Study and Share:

In addition to what you find in the secular media, look at the following:
     ACT Alliance
     Church World Service

Give:

Gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response help us to provide immediate and effective support to communities which are in need. Please consider giving to support the needs of this response and others like it. Information on giving is provided in the box on the right “How You Can Help.” 100% of your gift will be used in full to bring life sustaining support to this crisis. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Photo credits: ELCA/Miranda Meyer

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