ACT Alert

Heavy rains in El Salvador

Geneva, October 31, 2007

Beginning October 15, 2007, a tropical depression caused the overflow of rivers in El Salvador. The ACT El Salvador forum members report that close to 500 families were evacuated from highly vulnerable areas where the members are present.

Members also report initial estimates of 10,000 hectares of cultivated land being damaged and that basic crops have been affected, especially in lowland areas, leaving the possibility of a food shortage until the beginning of 2008.

ACT members and their implementing partner organizations have supported the affected families with food, psychosocial care and shelter. Most of the evacuated families have already returned back to their homes. However, rains are continuing and in some villages there is still a risk of mudslides and damage to local infrastructure.

The 2007 rainy season in El Salvador has been characterized by the presence of two hurricanes (Dean and Felix), a tropical storm and three systems of low pressure, according to the National Service for Territorial Studies.

The ACT El Salvador Forum will be further assessing the situation and are considering an appeal to support vulnerable families and subsistence farmers through food security and agriculture assistance.

ACT El Salvador Forum:

Christian Aid (CA)

Lutheran World Service (LWS)

Salvadoran Lutheran Synod (SLS)

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).

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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.