Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) will respond to the needs of people affected by Hurricane Felix.
On Tuesday, September 4th, Hurricane Felix blew across Nicaragua and Honduras as a category five hurricane quickly loosing strength to a tropical storm as it drenched the region with rain.
The hurricane has killed at least 21 people on Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast and 60 people are believed to be missing: over 50 in the Northern Matagalpa province and 10 in the city of Puerto Cabezas. The storm destroyed over 5,000 homes, uprooted trees and devastated villages. Heavy rainfall has triggered fears of flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas where shantytowns are in close proximity to hillsides.
Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega has declared the coastal region a disaster area. Some 15,800 of the region’s 60,000 residents remain in 76 temporary shelters. The Rt. Rev. Sturdie Downs of Nicaragua and the Rt. Rev. Lloyd Allen of Honduras have asked that all churches in their diocese serve as shelters.
Our staff is in communication with long-standing Anglican partners in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Belize to identify needs. ERD plans to provide emergency aid as needs are identified.
Please continue to pray for those affected by this storm.
Episcopal Relief and Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. An independent 501(c) (3) organization, ERD saves lives and builds hope in communities around the world. ERD’s programs work toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We provide emergency assistance in times of crisis and rebuild after disasters. We enable people to climb out of poverty by offering long-term solutions in the areas of food security and health care, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.
