Aid to El Salvador reaches $1.6 million
October 7, 2005

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SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - In order to help El Salvador cope with the damage caused by tropical storm Stan, the United States is providing $1,615,000 in relief goods and other assistance.

USAID, through its Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), provided $100,000 to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for temporary shelter supplies, such as mattresses, bed rolls, blankets and hygiene kits. Of this amount, CRS used the first $50,000 to distribute supplies to shelters in the most affected area, near the Lower Lempa River, which runs through the eastern departments of Usulutan and San Vicente. The remaining $50,000 was provided to shelters in the western departments of Santa Ana and Sonsonate. In addition, USAID provided the El Salvador Emergency Committee (COEN) with 55 boxes of reinforced plastic sheeting to be used for the construction of temporary shelters for about 1,650 people, valued at $15,400.

The U.S. Government also approved $100,000 for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to address health and water contamination problems in areas affected by the flooding.

In addition to the flooding, the Santa Ana volcano erupted, causing damage and evacuation of people living near the crater. USAID, through the US Geological Survey (USGS), is providing technical assistance to the National Service of Land Studies (SNET) to improve monitoring systems near the volcano.

For the recovery phase, the U.S. Government has pledged $1 million for priority activities that will be agreed upon with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has redirected $400,000 of its support to the World Food Program (WFP) to help meet Salvadoran food needs.