Episcopal Relief & Development Supports Response to Hurricane Eta in Central America

Web Statement

December 29, 2020

Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting Church partners in Latin America as they respond to Hurricanes Eta and Iota, successive hurricanes that caused storm surges, flash floods and landslides throughout the region in November. The organization is expanding its partnerships with El Porvenir, the Episcopal Diocese of Honduras and the Episcopal Church of Cuba as they provide emergency relief to vulnerable communities that were impacted.

Central America and the Caribbean were struck by two hurricanes over the course of two weeks in November 2020. First, the slow-moving Hurricane Eta dropped as much as 20 inches of rain throughout the region, causing flash flooding and destroying homes, crops and livelihoods. Two weeks later, before communities had even begun to recover, many of the same areas were hit by Hurricane Iota. The ground was already soaked from Eta’s rains, intensifying the impact of the additional rain and flooding.

In Nicaragua, Episcopal Relief & Development is adding a new program working through partner El Porvenir to repair latrines and water filtration systems in rural communities. In communities where El Porvenir has existing relationships, 108 home and school latrines were damaged, 10 water systems were affected and four wells need to be disinfected. Clean water is critical for reducing the spread of disease, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. El Porvenir is working with local partners to repair and disinfect these latrines and water systems while taking precautions to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.

Episcopal Relief & Development is continuing to partner with the Episcopal Church of Honduras in response to the hurricanes. More than 100,000 Hondurans were displaced after successive hurricanes. The Episcopal Church of Honduras is supporting a new shelter in Colonia Las Brisas in San Pedro Sula that is providing temporary housing to 150 families who were displaced. Clergy and volunteers are supplying the shelter with non-perishable food, cutlery, bedding, hygiene kits and clothing. The Church is also distributing mattresses, blankets, two-burner stoves and clothing to families who are returning home to help them begin to rebuild. All distribution efforts will be carried out while taking into account physical distancing and other COVID-19 precautions.

Eta made landfall on Cuba’s south-central coast and caused a dangerous hurricane surge, flash flooding and landslides, which extensively damaged housing, agricultural land, electrical services and transportation routes. The Episcopal Church of Cuba, together with its mobilized local Disaster Response Committees and Episcopal Relief & Development’s support, is providing direct assistance to 280 people. Additionally, the Church is replacing and repairing roofing, walls and windows in 50 homes and two community education centers that were damaged in the storm. The Disaster Response Committees are also working to restore agricultural land in an effort to reduce concerns about access to food and livelihood.

“It will take time for communities to recover from the impact of two successive hurricanes, at a time while church partners were also managing a pandemic,” said Nagulan Nesiah, Senior Progam Officer, Disaster Risk Reduction, Episcopal Relief & Development.  “I am inspired by how our partners are leveraging existing relationships to continue to provide assistance to those most in need.”

Please continue to pray for all those impacted by the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Donations to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Hurricane Relief Fund will support continued response to storms such as Eta and Iota.

For over 80 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate.

Press Release

November 19, 2020

Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting partners in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua as they respond to the devastation caused by Hurricane Eta. They are providing food, shelter, bedding and other emergency supplies to communities that have been impacted.

Hurricane Eta struck Central America on November 2, moving through Nicaragua to Guatemala and Honduras. This week, many of the same areas were then also hit by Hurricane Iota. Even before Iota, approximately 3.6 million people across Central America had been affected by Eta, a slow-moving storm with heavy rains, flooding and landslides that wiped out entire communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated relief efforts while also exacerbating the effects of the hurricanes.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Eta, Episcopal Relief & Development staff have been in close contact with the Episcopal dioceses of Guatemala, Honduras and Nicargaua to offer technical and financial support as the dioceses respond to the needs of vulnerable communities. Partners are also assessing the effects of Hurricane Iota which struck many of the same communities. Additionally, Episcopal Relief & Development staff is coordinating with the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba as church leaders determine a potential response.

The Diocese of Nicaragua is equipping farmers in the coastal village of Kisalaya by helping them recover and rebuild. Many of these farmers lost crops in the storm such as cabbage, cucumber, sweet pepper, tomato and squash seeds. The diocese is also providing farmers with rice, beans, corn and other food to meet immediate needs.

In Guatemala, Eta washed away roads and led to the evacuation of approximately 9,000 people. Over 1,800 homes were destroyed. The Diocese of Guatemala, with Episcopal Relief & Development’s support, is procuring food and bedding for shelters that have been set up in local churches. The diocese is also distributing food packages to families with children who lost their homes.

Hurricane Eta downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it hit Honduras, however the storm caused severe flooding in coastal areas. With Episcopal Relief & Development’s support, the Diocese of Honduras is providing food, clothing and other emergency supplies to shelters, individuals and families. The diocese is purchasing bedding and pillows, propane tanks, food such as meats, vegetables and grains, and clothing items. All of these items will be used by shelters to ensure that people have a safe and warm place to sleep and food to eat. Staff and volunteers are also distributing packages of supplies to help people as they return to their homes.

“The 2020 Hurricane Season has been unprecedented and many of the impacted communities continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Nagulan Nesiah, Senior Program Officer, Disaster Risk and Reduction, Episcopal Relief & Development. “Our partners in Central America are responding to assist women, children, farmers and other groups that have been disproportionately affected by the multiple disasters of COVID-19, Eta and Iota.”

Donations to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Hurricane Relief fund will support continued response to storms such as Eta and Iota. To learn more about Episcopal Relief & Development’s COVID-19 response, visit episcopalrelief.org/pandemicresponse.

For over 75 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate.

Photo Courtesy of the Episcopal Diocese of Nicaragua