Historic Hurricanes Pound Central America and Mexico, World Vision Responding
Source: World Vision - USA
Teams are in hardest-hit areas determining the needs of the affected
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PUERTO CABEZAS, Nicaragua, September 6, 2007: Hurricanes Felix and Henriette have ravaged Central America, leaving homes destroyed and threatening severe flooding. International aid agency World Vision is flying 8,000 pounds of relief supplies into Puerto Cabezas.
"Houses are destroyed along the Mosquito Coast," said Oscar Chicas, World Vision's emergency response director for Honduras. "We are worried that one of our programs may still be affected by flooding."
Felix made 2007 the first year in which two Category 5 hurricanes have made landfall in the same season. Hurricane Dean hit Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 5 on August 21.
World Vision has activated response teams and established emergency operation centers in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Supplies being flown to Puerto Cabezas include medicine, shoes, clothes, temporary shelters and water purification tablets.
World Vision's national office in Mexico is monitoring Hurricane Henriette closely and is prepared to respond. Aldo Pontecorvo, World Vision's emergency response director for Mexico, said rain, not wind from the hurricane may pose the greatest danger. "The clouds will be emptying all their water over the state of Chiapas," he said. "It's very possible that rivers will overflow and cause extensive flooding." World Vision operates programs in Chiapas, and has medicines and blankets ready for distribution.
World Vision has worked in Nicaragua for more than 35 years, operating extensive programs in water and sanitation. Donors in the United States sponsor 17,000 children in Nicaragua.
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For more information, please contact Casey Calamusa at 253.815.2377 (office), 206.310.5476 (mobile), or ccalamus@worldvision.org.
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Visit www.worldvision.org.
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