Silver Spring, Maryland--Heavy rainfall has caused deadly landslides and flooding in Panama, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people, displacing nearly 12,000 into temporary shelters, and affecting more than 23,600. In response, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has provided emergency food aid for more than 1,800 individuals currently displaced in shelters in the severely affected provinces of Bocas del Toro, and Chiriqui, in the western region of Panama.

Between December 3 and 4, ADRA responded to the needs of survivors, providing emergency food baskets for 365 families displaced to local shelters due to rising floodwaters. In addition, other emergency response projects included the distribution of hot food for displaced families, as well as clothing, blankets, and other necessities. Food baskets were stocked with rice, beans, oil, wheat flour, sugar, and salt, in order to meet the daily nutritional needs of a family of five for fifteen days. ADRA selected beneficiaries based on their needs and the number of young children per household.

"The distribution went very well," said Carlos Cima, ADRA coordinator in western Panama. "Because of the work of ADRA and our partners, we were able to exceed our preliminary expectations, providing more food, for more families than we originally hoped for."

According to Cima, much more needs to be done, as many people still lack food, water, and blankets.

Funding for the two-day project came from ADRA International, the ADRA Inter-America Regional office based in Miami, Florida, and the headquarters of the Adventist Church in western Panama.

In Bocas del Toro, the overflowing of the Changuinola, Teribe and Sixaola rivers caused at least three deaths, destroyed 102 homes, and affected more than 14,500 people. In Chiriqui, Cerro Punta, and Boquete, landslides and the flooding of two additional rivers, the Caldra and the Chiriqui Viejo, left at least six dead and six injured, destroyed 29 homes, and affected 715 people, many of them young children.

Since November 17, ongoing rains have saturated the ground in several regions of Panama, flooding multiple communities in Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Ngobe Buglé, and Veraguas in western Panama, as well as the province of Colón, located in northern Panama.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of December 1, rains have affected 23,614 people directly, damaged 1,165 homes, and destroyed another 191 homes. Currently, damages have been estimated to be as high as $6 million.

To assist in ADRA's emergency response to the flooding in Panama, contributions can be donated to ADRA's Emergency Response Fund, by phone at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or online at www.adra.org.

ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

Author: Nadia McGill

Media Contact: John Torres, Senior Public Relations Manager, ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.6357 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org