Episcopal Press and News
Relief Agency Plans Housing and Much More in El Salvador
Episcopal News Service. April 23, 2001 [2001-89]
Ed Stannard, News Editor for Episcopal Life
(Episcopal Life) In the aftermath of three earthquakes this year, Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is launching a major project to build more than 200 houses, while going beyond shelter to provide health care, small-business projects and even an early-warning system for future natural disasters.
ERD, formerly known as the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, is working with the Diocese of El Salvador on the project, which starts May 1. ERD has earmarked more than $2.2 million to build 200 earthquake-proof houses in the villages of Sonsonate, Usulutan and Santa Ana, severely damaged in the January and February quakes. The plan is to complete 100 houses in the first year.
Working with poorest
"The Diocese of El Salvador is very community-development-focused, even before the earthquake," said Abagail Nelson, who coordinates projects in Latin America for ERD. The diocese is experienced in such work because of civil war and Hurricane Mitch. "Their focus is working with the poorest of the poor, giving them opportunities to participate in the transformation of their own lives," Nelson said.
El Salvador, formerly part of the Episcopal Church, is now part of the Anglican Church in the Central American Region.
Nelson reported that during her visit to El Salvador, she helped members of the diocesan staff distribute hundreds of bags of food and other essentials to needy families. Others involved in relief include Action by Churches Together, Doctors without Borders and the Lutheran World Federation.
While the capital of San Salvador was spared much of the damage from the quakes, primarily because of better construction, one in three houses in the countryside has been severely damaged or destroyed, Nelson said. "Basically, it's a devastating situation. ... People are living outside under plastic tarps." Most houses in rural El Salvador were built of adobe, loose wood or cinderblocks, which the earthquakes turned to rubble.
"We want to make sure we're building structures that are sturdy and will survive the next earthquake when it comes, because El Salvador will always have earthquakes," said Nelson. To that end, only workers with professional expertise will be asked to take part in the building projects. Volunteer work teams, who are helping build houses in Honduras, which was ravaged by Hurricane Mitch, will not be asked to go to El Salvador. Those who will own the houses will be trained in construction so they can help build their own homes.
"The idea is, if you have some kind of professional service that you want to donate to the Diocese of El Salvador, we want to refer you to Cristosal," an Episcopal non-governmental organization that promotes understanding of El Salvador and which is overseeing the construction.
With the change of its name at last summer's General Convention, ERD increased its focus on long-term development projects, which improve people's health, education and economic well-being, going further than traditional relief. Development will be a major part of the Salvadoran project.
The health program will establish clinics and teach community residents sound health practices. It will include two part-time physicians, a psychologist and a nurse/physiotherapist. Malaika Kamunanwire, ERD's director of development and public relations, noted that mental health assistance is a particular need in a place where tremors were a fact of life for weeks. Loud noises would instill fear in already-devastated Salvadorans, she said. Also, long-term stress can create physical ailments, such as asthma.
Contributions, which may be designated for El Salvador, may be sent to Episcopal Relief and Development, c/o Bankers Trust, Box 12043, Newark, N.J. 07101. To make donations electronically click here or phone, 800-334-7626, ext. 5129.
To contact Cristosal, call its chair, Richard Bower, at 802-228-5452, or e-mail him at rabvt@together.net.