Working to Alleviate AND Prevent Natural Disasters
February 18, 2010
Published on our SHARE e-newsletter, February 18, 2010. To subscribe to our e-newsletter, email Laura at laura@share-elsalvador.org
A phrase that can be heard here in El Salvador is that there are “no natural disasters,” rather there are natural phenomenon, but that disasters are a result of human error. An example of this is when in places like El Salvador, heavy rains hit, and it is the poorest who lose everything due their poorly constructed homes that are built in the riskiest places. We saw this in Haiti when a 7.0 earthquake killed over 200,000 people, while the 6.9 earthquake in San Francisco in 1989 killed 63 people. Planning for disasters and prevention can make high-risk areas less vulnerable. However, like Haiti, El Salvador is incredible vulnerable to natural disasters. People live in constant fear of another hurricane like Mitch, Stan or Ida, or another earthquake, like the ones that hit in 2001.
On November 7th, 2009, disas
ter struck again when torrential rains from Hurricane Ida swept over El Salvador, destroying homes and crops in some of the most marginalized communities. SHARE responded as quickly as we could and with the support of individuals and groups in the United States, we were able to provide relief to communities in the departments of San Salvador, La Paz, San Vicente and La Libertad. Read More »
Join the Romero Vive Campaign
February 16, 2010
From our friends at the Salvadoran American National Network (SANN)
ROMERO VIVE!
The Salvadoran American National Network (SANN), in collaboration with other organizations to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Martyrdom Monsignor Romero, wants to request you to unite for the “Romero Vive” campaign. To participate, you will need to sign a letter requesting the President of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes, to name our airport, International Airport of Mons. Oscar Arnulfo Romero. (sign the letter at www.sannetwork.org ) Read More »
Letter to our base from SHARE Director Jose Artiga
February 11, 2010
Queridas amigas y amigos de SHARE,
Warm greetings from Washington DC where we are under several feet of snow.
I am writing to you today to elaborate and update on a few challenges we as a SHARE community encountered in the final months of 2009. First, Hurricane Ida left many victims and much destruction. However, thanks to the international community, reconstruction is underway. We want to say “Gracias” to each of our sister parishes, communities, schools, universities, foundations, religious orders and individual supporters for your generous response to this crisis.
SHARE was also blessed by the support of the Salvadoran community in the US, in particular the coalitions that raised and channeled their support through SHARE from Houston, TX and San Francisco, CA.
SHARE has been presente with the communities affected by Hurricane Ida since day one. Through your kind support, we have delivered over $42,000 in emergency aid, and are committed to assisting in any ways that we can throughout all phases of reconstruction. I want to thank the entire SHARE staff for the tremendous effort and dedication on this emergency.
Read More »
ter struck again when torrential rains from Hurricane Ida swept over El Salvador, destroying homes and crops in some of the most marginalized communities. SHARE responded as quickly as we could and with the support of individuals and groups in the United States, we were able to provide relief to communities in the departments of San Salvador, La Paz, San Vicente and La Libertad. Read More »
