Summary: European Commission boosts humanitarian funding for the victims of Hurricane Stan in El Salvador by €2 million (Brussels: 25 April 2006)
In October 2005, Hurricane Stan hit El Salvador and Guatemala, causing destruction of dwellings, crops and infrastructure. Despite its allocation of €5.7 million so far to this crisis in the two countries, the situation remains precarious for many people in El Salvador and for this reason the European Commission has earmarked a further €2 million in humanitarian aid. The objective of the funding is to support the victims of Stan to regain a minimum level of self sufficiency while incorporating elements of disaster preparedness. The support is being channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) which comes under the responsibility of Louis Michel, the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid.
This decision will support the return of the most vulnerable people to their homes. Funding will aim at the rehabilitation of housing, provision of water and sanitation, disaster preparedness and other integrated activities. Louis Michel emphasized that "in a multi-hazard country such as El Salvador, disaster preparedness is a vital component to help communities build their own coping capacity to better face natural catastrophes".
Floods, landslides and avalanches of boulders were triggered by Hurricane Stan in El Salvador and Guatemala. In El Salvador this was compounded by an eruption of the Ilamatepec volcano which led to the evacuation of hundreds of people who were living in the exclusion zone around the volcano. Some 250,000 people were displaced and 32,000 people had to be accommodated temporarily in public facilities such as schools. Six months after the catastrophe, there are still serious humanitarian needs. Some 5,000 people are still living in temporary communal shelters, which will soon have to be evacuated. But the victims of the disaster have lost their homes and a return to their villages is not possible without support. For many, especially those living near the volcano, return may not be possible without this help.
A separate programme may be prepared for Guatemala in the coming months, depending on the outcome of a needs assessment in the country.
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