Nutrition, Clean Water, Disease-Prevention are Focus of Relief Efforts

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) continues to assist victims of Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. MSF's overall objective in Central America is to prevent epidemics, provide medical care to the injured and emergency shelter to the homeless, rehabilitate damaged clinics, hospitals, water and sanitation structures, and prevent malnutrition among the victims of Hurricane Mitch.

MSF is striving to prevent:

• Spread of epidemics due to destruction of health structures and limited access to medical care,
• Outbreaks of water-borne diseases-mainly cholera, diarrhea, and skin infections, due to lack of drinkable water, contamination of wells, and carcasses floating in water supply,
• Respiratory and skin infections due to poor hygiene conditions, lack of proper shelter, and overcrowded emergency shelters, and
• Malnutrition, particularly in children, due to lack of adequate food supply.

Activities by Country:

In Honduras, MSF is distributing drugs, medical supplies, and clean water to health centers and shelters in San Pedro Sula, Puerto Cortés, Omoa, La Ceiba, Iriona, Tocoa, and Tegucigalpa. A cargo arrived from Costa Rica with medicines, medical supplies and equipment, emergency shelter, and water and sanitation supplies, including: water chlorination kits, 2,000- and 15,000-liter water tanks, communications equipment, and a Zodiac boat. Another cargo plane will arrive within the next few days, with cholera treatment material to care for 10,000 people for 3 months (in case of an epidemic).

In Nicaragua, relief efforts are being concentrated on the hard-hit regions of Chinandega (Chichigalpa, Posotelga, and Somotillo), Esteli (San Juan de Limay, and Condega), Ocotal (Ocotal City, Quilali, Panali, La Vigia, and El Coco), Jinotega (Jinotega city, Wiwili, Cua, and Bocay), Managua (San Francisco Libre), and Nueva Segovia. MSF is distributing drugs, medical supplies, and clean drinking water. In addition, we are providing emergency shelter materials, including plastic sheeting, as well as water chlorination and pumping equipment to displaced people. Three tons of MSF's emergency medical supplies-one of the first relief cargoes to reach the country following the hurricane-arrived in Managua on Saturday, October 31, and were distributed. An additional cargo plane arrived Monday, November 2, with 2.2 tons of medicines, medical supplies and equipment, emergency shelter, and 4 tons of water and sanitation supplies. More supplies are to arrive this week.

In Guatemala, MSF is the only international non-governmental organization taking part in CONRED, the National Commission for the Reduction of Disasters. MSF teams are distributing medicines, medical equipment, emergency shelter, and water and sanitation supplies. Supplies include: water pumps, electric generators, 2,000-, 15,000-, and 20,000-liter water tanks, and water chlorination material, and plastic sheeting. MSF is operating mainly in Chinoc Izabal, Rio Dulce, and Alta Verapaz.

In El Salvador, MSF is currently conducting an exploratory mission to evaluate needs and send in an emergency relief team and cargo in the next few days.

Update: November 3, 1998
Relief Aid Rushed to Central America

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is actively assisting victims of Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala, and carrying out additional assessments of humanitarian needs in the region.

In Nicaragua, MSF is distributing drugs, medical supplies, and clean drinking water. In addition, we are providing emergency shelter materials, including plastic sheeting, as well as water chlorination and pumping equipment to displaced people. Three tons of MSF's emergency medical supplies - one of the first relief cargoes to reach the country following the hurricane - arrived in Managua on Saturday morning and were distributed. Relief efforts are being concentrated on the hard-hit coastal region of Chinandega on the Atlantic Coast, as well as Esteli, Nueva Segovia, Jinotega, and the capital city of Managua. Additional relief supplies and personnel are en route to the disaster.

In Honduras, MSF is distributing drugs, medical supplies, and clean water to health centers and shelters in San Pedro Zula and Tegucigalpa. We are actively attempting to reach the hard-hit coastal regions of the country cut off by damaged roads and bridges. In Tegucigalpa, where the Choluteca River has overflown and left thousands homeless and without clean drinking water, MSF is also preparing an emergency water and sanitation intervention.

In Guatemala, MSF is the only international non-governmental organization taking part in CONRED, the National Commission for the Reduction of Disasters. MSF teams are distributing drugs, water pumps, electric generators, medical supplies, plastic sheeting, and drinking water in the regions of Chinoc Izabal, Rio Dulce, Alta Verapaz.

MSF is also monitoring the situation in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Belize, and Mexico.