How can I help?

To find out ways you can help the relief effort in El Salvador visit Tim's El Salvador Blog below. He provides a list of organizations helping in the recovery effort and also provides tips on how to help in times of crisis.
How can I help?

An official recovery/reconstruction strategy has not been released yet, but as soon as it is I will post to let you know.

Recovery and Reconstruction Discussion

           The recovery process has begun in El Salvador. This past Tuesday Central American Presidents belonging to the Central American Integration System met to asses the damage caused by the E-12 storm and begin strategizing a reconstruction plan. A plan has not been decided upon yet. However, several key areas have become the focus of the discussion such as the economic sector, infrastructure and the health sector.

            In regards to the economic sector, the FMLN party has suggested that a legislative decree be made placing a ceiling on the price of grain, beans, rice, sugar and millet. Orestes Ortez, FMLN deputy, explains that this decree would only be in place for six months unless extended, and that it will help maintain stability until the true impact of the storm can be realized. Roberto d’Abuisson, ARENA congressman, disagrees stating that this sort of limitation will be counterproductive and only encourage shortages and hoarding. He explains that by placing a price ceiling on these goods the farmers will have no incentive to continue producing these goods, thus creating a shortage. This new law proposed by the FMLN has the consumers in mind as the benefactors rather than the producers, which is the main concern of those that oppose such as d’Abuisson.

            Another area that is key to the reconstruction discussion is that of the infrastructure sector. One of the initial points made by President Funes at the meeting on Tuesday was that the solution to the recovery process is not simply to obtain resources from the international community to reconstruct the infrastructure of the past. Instead, Funes urges the international community, particularly industrialized nations, to reduce their production of greenhouse gases and recognize that Central America is vulnerable to the climate changes caused by these gases. In addition to this, Funes states that the reconstruction process needs to be adjusted to include new plans for infrastructure that can endure future storms. The government intends to use the $50 million credit approved by the Inter-American Development Bank to fund the reconstruction process.

            In addition to the general infrastructure, the Health sector has also been an area of concern in the recovery discussion. It has been reported by Diario Co Latino that 247 Health centers have been affected by this storm, and will require 20 billion dollars for recovery. Of the 247, there are 39 hospitals and 3 centers that cannot be used at all. According to El Mundo, the Ministry of Finance plans to redirect $13 million in credit approved for reconstruction to the rebuild health units. Six million dollars has already been used towards humanitarian assistance. However, with diseases continuing to spread from contaminated water, health centers have become a priority.

 The issue of contaminated water is also on the table for discussion. La Prensa Grafica reports that 8,353 water wells have been destroyed and 1,833 are flooded and contaminated. Also, according to the Ministry of Health 6,689 latrines have been flooded and 22,173 have been destroyed. This is a health concern because the consumption of contaminated water and crops can cause gastrointestinal illness. The clean up process of an individual well ranges from $250-$750, which many farmers cannot afford. The total cost to clean the damaged wells would be about $6,000,000 and $17.5 million more to clean latrines, as opposed to an additional $1.2 million to completely replace 500 wells.

The discussion continues in El Salvador as leaders weigh their options and attempt to get their financial houses in order. More updates as the strategy for reconstruction is decided.

Total Damage from E-12 Storm in E.S.

            Almost one week has passed since the E-12 officially ended in El Salvador. Now that the torrential rains have stopped, the Civil Protection along with government officials, have begun to asses the damage and construct a recovery plan.

            According to El Faro, the recorded number of displaced refugees has reached 52,000 the majority staying in one of 566 shelters, and the death count remains the same at 32. As a result of this, all classes are suspended throughout El Salvador because many of the shelters are located in public school facilities.

 In addition to this, the main highway to the west of the country from San Salvador has been closed due to landslides. Other smaller roads have been closed, as well as 15 bridges damaged and 5 completely destroyed from currents.

La Prensa Grafica reports that the UN has requested that 15.7 million be raised between October 2011 and April of 2012 to assist the 300,000 Salvadorans that have been affected. The UN has also expressed concern for the health of Salvadorans, as 69% of the population has been affected and water related diseases are spreading.

            Another area that has suffered greatly from this storm is the Agricultural/ Economic sector.

The Ministry of Agriculture has released its statistical records of the damage (El Mundo): 

• 35% of domestically produced grains have been destroyed
• 7 million bushels have been affected, 1.6 million of which are non-recoverable

• 987,890 bushels of corn, 134,267 apples, 339,835 bushels of beans lost
• 21,352 cattle lost
• 35,570 poultry lost
• 4,279 hives spoiled
• 265 acres of fish ponds affected (26% of total production)
• 29% of fruit production affected (mainly bananas and papayas)
• 6.111 acres of sugar cane damaged (expected to lower production by 20%)

          The direct damage is estimated to be 650 million dollars. However, once indirect costs are included the total economic damage raises to slightly over 1 billion dollars. According to El Faro, this is more than double the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998: “That hurricane left 260 million in losses for over a decade was considered the most damaging natural phenomenon. He left 240 dead and the maximum level of accumulated rainfall was 860 millimeters.” This maximum rain recorded from this E-12 storm was 1513mm in Huizucar Station, La Libertad.

More on plans for recovery and the recovery process soon to come.

The State of Emergency Continues in E.S. with the Refugee Count Now Over 32,000

            It has been ten days since the torrential rains began in El Salvador. The death toll has unfortunately increased from four to thirty two over weekend, as the rains continue to fall effecting more than 150,000 people. On the bright side, the weather station delivered the only good news in the past ten days. A cold front from the north is expected to move in tonight (Wednesday night), bringing with it some dry air to weaken the rains by Thursday.

            The number of refugees now totals over 32,000, with 21,500 staying in the 232 shelters across the country, and the remaining 10,500 staying with friends and family. The Civil Protection reports that the problem is now evolving from emergency rescue to caring for those that have lost everything (houses, possessions, crops and animals, and means of production) in the floods and landslides. Close to 20,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed over the past ten days, leaving many with the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. In response to this, the national Legislature has declared a state of public calamity, which will allow for resources to be redistributed to the rebuilding process. This declaration is also intended to compel citizens to volunteer without promise of “just compensation”.

            Although preventative actions were taken to keep the death toll low, it none the less climbed to 32 over the weekend. This is in large part due to those areas where evacuation was “advised” by mayors but not enforced. In many areas, such as the municipality of Mejicanos, people refuse to leave their homes. In fact a team of 100 was sent in to try and persuade the 4,000 residents to evacuate, but were only able to convince 500. This reluctant attitude is also shared by local officials. Some mayors have scheduled an evacuation operation but canceled it due to “excessive risk to municipal staff”. Others have even gone so far to say that demanding their community to evacuate would be crazy, and that they will take their own appropriate punitive measures. It is this reluctance that caused the climb in deaths over the weekend as several slopes and dams collapsed.

            The amount of rain that has fallen over the past 10 days is phenomenal. The historical record for rainfall of any country during a storm was 861 mm, which was the record set by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. To put this in perspective, the average annual rainfall for El Salvador lies between 1.400-2.00 mm. The total rainfall from the past ten days has more than marginally surpassed this record, and has come close to surmounting the annual amount at over 1.20 mm.

            Needless to say the Salvadorans are in need of any and all support. So please, keep them in your thoughts in prayers as they work to recover and rebuild.

A Few last words from Dean Brackley, S.J.

I invite you to discover your vocation in downward mobility. It's a scary request... The world is obsessed with wealth and security and upward mobility and prestige. But let us teach solidarity, walking with the victim,s, serving and loving. I offer this for you to consider - downward mobility. And I would say in this enterprise there is a great deal of hope.

Have the courage to... lose control.

Have the courage to feel useless.

Have the courage to listen.

Have the courage to receive.

Have the courage to let your heart be broken.

Have the courage to feel.

Have the courage to fall in love.

Have the courage to get ruined for life.

Have the courage to make a friend.

Dean Brackley, S.J.

 

 

 

the following is a link to an audio testimony of gratitude from Dean Brackley, S.J.(in spanish):

Testimony of gratitude from Dean Brackley, S.J.

Fr. Dean Brackley, S.J. Dies

From our friend, Gene Palumbo:

    In August, I wrote to you all saying, "This is the email I was hoping I'd never have to send." That was when Dean - having gotten the scan results that showed the tumor continuing to grow, despite the chemotherapy - decided to forego further treatment and return to El Salvador for palliative care.

   Now, sadly, I write to you again, and again could begin with those same words.

   I sent an update yesterday morning to tell you that Dean had left the hospital. Then I went over to see him. He had said he wanted to be in touch with his two brothers and his sister. I called each of them from my cell phone and held the phone to his ear. he could hear them but, given his weakened state, was able to say very little to them.

   This morning Father Jose Maria "Chema" Tojeira called to say that Dean had grown much weaker. My wife, Guadalupe, and I went to see him immediately. When we got to this room, we found him surrounded by brother Jesuits -- Chema, Jon Sobrino, Rafael de Sivatte, Mauricio Gaborit and Vincinte Espinoza - and his doctor, Miny Romero. We took turns sitting beside him, holding his hand and whispering in his ear. His breathing continued to slow, and shortly after 11 a.m., he died.

   As you know, Dean came to El Salvador to help replace the six Jesuits murdered in 1989. Today, his life as a Jesuit ended in the place where their lives as Jesuits began: the Santa Tecla residence, where they did their two-year novitiate.

   One of my tasks, in my role as Dean's "secretary" in these last months, was to check his email. I don't know why, but it occurred to me to check it again before sending you this note. I'm so glad I did that, because I found something that had just arrived: a note from Rafael de Sivatte. He's another of the six Jesuits who came here to take the places of their murdered brothers. He, too, has been keeping a list of people abreast of how Dean has been doing. he copied Dean on those emails, and so it was that this turned up in Dean's inbox just now:

           I write to give you the painful and joyful news that God, Father and Mother, has taken to his side our brother, friend, father, and companion in solidarity, Dean. I can tell you that he died so peacefully that those of us who were with him at that moment felt filled with peace ourselves. I send you a fraternal embrace, united with you in prayers and in the commitment to the Kingdom for which he worked and continues to work.

   I loved that Rafael wrote on the subject line of his email: "Dean, still with us."

Peace,

Gene



We will miss your company, but you will always be with us. Thank you for your example of solidarity. Fr. Dean Brackley, S.J. Presente!

Tropical Storms wreak havoc on El Salvador

    At the beginning of this week a tropical storm hit El Salvador. The rain has been relentless and is not expected to stop until Saturday, with another tropical depression following soon after. To many of us in the U.S. a tropical storm usually isn't cause for panic or a state of emergency. A hurricane yes, but tropical storms..usually not. However, in El Salvador tropical storms bring torrential amounts of rain which have led to a total of 246 landslides, 46 floods, and more than 40 overflowing rivers. This has led the National Civil Protection Commission to declare a state of emergency. Eight departments (equivalent to states) are still in a state of emergency and have ordered an evacuation. Due to the fact that neither the highland mountain areas nor the coastlines are safe, over 4,000 people have been evacuated from their homes to a total of 77 shelters dispersed throughout the various safety zones.
    The red cross and other organizations associated with the NCPC have been traveling through the affected departments via boat to rescue those that have been trapped by the flooding or landslides. In addition to providing transportation these search and rescue teams are also providing food and water to those that choose to stay behind because the storm has contaminated many of their water and food sources.
 So far only four deaths and one missing person have been recorded as a result of the storm in El Salvador. Unfortunately, with another depression approaching the NCPC does not consider this the end. In fact, the NCPC has requested that the current emergency budget be re-evaluated in order to address the current needs. The NCPC estimates that a total of $837,000,558.66 will be needed for supplies, damages and repairs.

Romero's Shooter Identified

My apologies for not writing about this sooner.

It appears that the shooter of Monseñor Romero has been identified. Salvadoran newspaper Diario Co Latino reported at the beginning of September that a reliable source informed them that the shooter was former Deputy Sergeant of the National Guard Samoyoa Marino. At the time of the shooting Marino was one of two good shooters/snipers in El Salvador. It is believed that Marino was suggested to (now former) President Molina by Molina's son for the mission. The following is an alleged conversation between Marino and Captain Eduardo Ávila planning the shooting (loosely translated):

"This is the opportunity," said Avila, thereupon asked for the shooter. "Do not worry," he said Molina, "I'm going to get him."

The newspaper's source also claims that the weapon used in the shooting verifies Molina as the shooter: "the rifle with telescopic sights, high accuracy rating. Swiss 219 (ie, size 22), was the property of Avila, and which had been tested on different days at Finca San Luis, Santa Tecla. The shooter was familiar with such weapons, because he was a specialist or hobby shooter."

The whereabouts of Marino are currently unknown. However, his birthday is said to be October 8, 1949 so he will be 63 tomorrow if he is still alive. (No I did realize I would be writing about him so near his birhday). 

For more on the connection of Marino to the killing, his photograph, and on how the killing was planned, go to :

http://www.diariocolatino.com/es/20110909/portada/96347/El-francotirador-que-dispar%C3%B3-contra-Monse%C3%B1or-Romero-fue-un-ex-Guardia-Nacional.htm?tpl=69

*It is in spanish so you may need a translator of some sort*

Crime and Fatigue

A final blog from Chris' experience...

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Crime and Fatigue

Awareness of crime – especially violent crime – is pervasive in El Salvador, a country with one of the highest homicide rates in the world.  Houses are surrounded by walls topped with razor wire.  Armed (which is not necessarily the same thing as “trained”) guards stand outside banks, jewelry stores, even ice cream shops, and security is big business.  A people that clearly prizes hospitality as a virtue (more on that in a later post) seems also hesitant to open doors.  When in a car, we drove with doors locked and windows up.

When I visited in July, the newspaper reported that the Department of Sonsonate with a population of about a half million people, had already endured 300 homicides for the year.  While I was not directly affected personally, my visit to Chalatenango was complicated by violence.  Apparently a refusal (or inability?) to pay extortion fees to organized crime led to two workers on that bus route being assassinated.  The drivers’ perceived reluctance on the part of authorities to protect them adequately, which led to a bus drivers’ strike that lasted a few days.  I was fortunate that Crispaz was able to arrange for a driver to get me there and back; most people do not have that luxury.

The US State Department calls public transportation “risky and not recommended.”  On the other hand, buses, though hardly comfortable, are frequent, convenient, and inexpensive – within San Salvador, fares are 20 cents.  Tens of thousands of people ride the buses daily, the vast majority without incident.  I first took some bus rides with Salvadorans, then alone – and also without incident -- but always to friendly warnings that I should keep my pack on my lap, be home by dark, and, if mugged, just cooperate.  Standard advice, I suppose. 



A dirt road up the gorgeous volcano of San Salvador rises up out San Ramon, through the community of Las Nubes – still without safe drinking water in 2011 – and high above the capital.  I mentioned in passing that, if time permitted, I would love to walk to the top.  Several people – both Salvadorans and North American expatriates alike – told me that it would not be safe, and the likelihood of being mugged, even up there, would be very high.  My friend Gustavo eventually offered to take me up with a group, but more out of generosity than because he thought it was a good idea.  So, we never did go all the way  up.



Maria Teresa, Sarai, Gustavo, Hector, and Sylvia took me part way up the volcano.



All of this kept me wondering just how cautious I should be.  Was I too worried?  Not worried enough?  I certainly did not feel worried on the 20-minute daytime bus trips to San Ramon.  On the other hand, when my poor sense of direction left a couple of women who had escorted me taking the bus home after dark, I was desperately nervous until I got their call that they had arrived home safely.

I started to think that maybe my worry had been overblown, that I had listened to the warnings too attentively.  I thought with some shame of my undergraduate days in New Orleans.  As a freshman, I had been warned not to take the bus downtown, but to stick to the streetcar – which, by the way, is considerably slower.  I followed that advice for three years before I was willing to brave being the only white person on the bus downtown.  I was self-conscious and nervous.  You can bet that I kept my pack on my lap, planned to be home before dark, and was prepared to cooperate with any muggers.  Nobody on the bus, however, seemed to have any reaction to my presence whatsoever.  I felt stupid, alarmist, and racist.

On the other hand, the risks about which I had been warned are all too real in El Salvador.  The fact that Salvadorans face them daily does not make them less dangerous, just common.  I had the chance to put this dilemma to Brian Rude, a Lutheran minister from Canada who has been working in Salvadoran prison ministry for years.  He related that he has been mugged a number of times, and his apartment robbed on other occasions.  He addresses the situation by having a policy of never carrying with him anything he is not willing to give up.  I thought of St. Francis of Assisi, who justified his order’s vow of corporate poverty on the grounds that if they owned property, they might feel the urge to defend it, and therefore to harm those who were trying to take it.

So, there is legitimate reason to feel concerned about security in El Salvador.  It also must be, I would imagine, really exhausting to maintain that level of vigilance over the long haul.  The long-term effects of this vigilance cannot be good for the psychological health of individuals or of society as a whole.

-Chris Welch '11