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Find out moreCentral America battered by tropical storm
04-June-2010
Children pushing their bicycles through the mud following a deadly landslide in Guatemala Photo: Reuters/Daniel Le Clair courtesy www.alertnet.org
Tropical storm Agatha has wreaked havoc across the Central
American countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras – killing
150 people and forcing tens of thousands of people from their
homes.
Plan's emergency response in all 3 countries is focusing on
health, child protection in the camps for displaced people and
psychosocial support for children emotionally affected by the
disaster.
Emergency relief
In El Salvador, more than 10,000 people have taken cover in nearly 200 temporary shelters and 9 people have died. Around 200 landslides have blocked roads and access to affected areas.Leftover emergency supplies from Hurricane Ida in November 2009 have already been handed out but many more items, including blankets, mattresses, water, medicines, first aid and hygiene kits are still needed.
Plan is currently supporting the El Salvadoran Ministry of Health with educational measures and medicine to help prevent the spread of dengue fever and other diseases in the shelters.
Volcanic explosion
In Guatemala, the tropical storm was made even more destructive by the explosion of the Pacaya volcano, a popular tourist attraction. Ash from the volcano mixed with the heavy rain is causing deadly landslides in rural areas.So far, 1,600 people have been evacuated with more than a third of them staying in shelters. Plan Guatemala is supporting the national emergency plan and working alongside the government-led national coordinator for disaster reduction.
Rising river levels
In Honduras, river levels continue to rise, prompting fears that the 2,556 already evacuated families could have flooding to contend with in the near future.Each Plan Honduras programme unit now has a centre for emergency operations which is monitoring health, education, sanitation and damage.
Find out more about Plan's work in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
If we receive any specific information about your sponsored child or their family we will notify you in writing or by phone.