The month of November brought two category 4 hurricanes to the La Mosquitia region of Nicaragua and Honduras, causing extensive damage from storm surge, high winds, and heavy rain. Top winds were measured at over 155 mph, and as much as 60 inches of rain fell within a two-week period.
A resident in Bilwi inspects the damage to his family’s home
In Nicaragua, many of the over 60,000 persons evacuated from their homes are now returning to assess what remains. Small towns such as Haulover were destroyed entirely, with scarcely a structure remaining intact. The Moravian Church there was left only with its front facade and steeple still standing.
In Honduras, shelters are beginning to empty out as rivers are now receding. Over 150 homes were completely destroyed, and more than 800 sustained significant damage. Roads and bridges were washed out hampering the delivery of food and supplies.
Food being delivered to homes in Honduras where many farms have been destroyed.
In Nicaragua and Honduras, many of the farms that line the rivers and creeks are now covered with two feet of sand and mud. They have lost much of their rice harvest this year, and now is the critical time for planting beans. As a result, food insecurity will be a factor for months to come.
The most pressing issues now include the immediate purchase of clean water and food, getting farms working again, cleaning out wells contaminated by raw sewage, and getting building materials in place.
To date, the Board of World Mission has dispatched $41,000 to the three Moravian Provinces in the region to help them procure these needed supplies. By the end of December, we will most likely be distributing another $75,000.
The Board of World Mission is continuing to work with organizations such as Feed the Hungry, Habitat for Humanity, and Mission Aviation Fellowship to aid in the recovery. We are also welcoming the financial assistance of many of our Moravian partners around the world.
We ask for your continued support of the Moravian Disaster Response fund, which allows the BWM to respond to disasters immediately with funds for emergency needs, as well as ongoing rebuilding projects. US residents can send donations to The Board of World Mission, 1021 Center St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. Canadian residents can send gifts to The Moravian Church in Canada, 600 Acadia Drive SE, Calgary, AB T2J 0B8.
To give online by going to www.moravianmission.org/give. Please mark your donation, “For MDR.”
