AMOS HEALTH AND HOPE HURRICANE FELIX UPDATE from Drs. David and Laura Parajon Friday, September 7, 2007 THE HURRICANE Heavy rains, lightning and thunder, and strong winds began on Tuesday September 4 th in Managua where we live. In the rural communities where we were working that day, the rivers began to overflow, and mudslides began to occur because of the rains. Our workshops with the health promoters were cancelled because people were afraid to leave their homes because the rivers had gone so high, people couldn´t cross. We were only catching the tail of Hurricane Felix, because we work and live on the Pacific side of Nicaragua. On the other side of Nicaragua was where the most serious damage was occurring. Felix, the category 5 hurricane, hit Nicaragua really hard on the North east Atlantic coast between two areas – Puerto Cabezas (aka Bilwi) and Cabo Gracias a Dios, affecting over 70,000 inhabitants of the area. The Nicaraguan government sent out the military, the police, disaster relief and health personnel starting Monday morning, September 3 rd, to evacuate people from their homes THE IMPACT As of today government official damage figures include: *39 deaths *There are more than 200 persons missing many of whom were in their fishing boats in the Miskito Cays. The sole survivor from one of the destroyed fishing boats managed to stay alive by clinging onto plastic jugs in deep water until he washed ashore. *Over 38,000 people have been affected by the hurricane, losing their homes completely or partially. *Schools, clinics, churches, the Bilwi Hospital, the Bilwi airport, have been destroyed or damaged, along with water, roads and electrical systems. *7795 homes have been destroyed, and 8,848 homes are severely damaged *Livestock and crops have also been lost. RELIEF EFFORTS We are currently heavily involved in the relief efforts. Today, David is traveling in the areas of the disaster to meet with the directors of the hospitals and clinics in Puerto Cabezas to see how we can help with their health needs as well as accompany those suffering from the affects of the disaster. Please pray for a safe journey for him and the delegation that is there. We are also meeting daily with our Nicaraguan Partner, the Council of Protestant Churches (CEPAD) on a joint plan for immediate relief and also for long term reconstruction of many damaged communities. Our commitment is to work on the short and long term with affected communities with an emphasis on the people living in the areas that are most difficult to reach. Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is also sending a CESSNA 206 and a pilot to help with the disaster relief efforts. Daily flights will be made to the affected areas to deliver food and medications as well as help with pastoral care. We ask your prayers for the people of the North Atlantic region of Nicaragua; the families that are mourning the loss of loved ones and of their homes, schools and churches. We pray that together we can help make a difference in the lives of many people who are suffering from this tragedy in Nicaragua. HOW YOU CAN HELP If you would like to help with the relief efforts, please send a contribution to International Ministries, PO Box 851 Valley Forge, PA. Please be sure to write on the MEMO line: HURRICANE FELIX Paz, David and Laura