Cooperation in emergency situations
Poverty reduces the ability to defend against natural catastrophes. In the face of a critical situation, the poorest people do not have the means necessary to combat these, which means that the consequences increase.
The lack of resources obliges many people to live in areas which are prone to natural disasters, with fragile homes constructed on unstable land, with difficult access to or a lack of drinking water and without medical attention, etc.
Recognizing that it is possible to minimize the terrible consequences of these catastrophes, Intervida carries our awareness-raising and disaster training programs directed at the development project beneficiaries.
Thanks to our collaborators’ support, we have been able to act in numerous emergencies, of trained healthcare and logistics professionals, and creating a setting for a second phase of renovation and the reconstruction of productive and educational structure in the affected areas.
The emergency teams dispatched to El Salvador following the earthquakes, and the teams dispatched to the town of Nagercoil in India following the tsunami, observed that the opportunity to work with these communities existed; after an exhaustive analysis, it was determined that development projects were necessary in the area in order to reduce the effects of the catastrophe.
- Bangladesh: January 2008
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A fire in the Nimtoly neighborhood, one of the poorest in the outskirts of Dhaka, destroyed the homes of some 10,000 people, leaving 1,680 families homeless. Among those affected are 67 families beneficiaries of the Intervida projects.
Emergency actions taken: The organization visited the affected slums and, together with the Intervida school’s Parents’ Association, they detected the most affected families and defined the following assistance actions: they distributed blankets, mosquito nets, utensils and other basic items among 200 families.
- El Salvador: January 2008
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In the first week of January, approximately 405 families were affected by strong winds which lashed 7 communities in which Intervida carries out its development projects. The wind storm caused significant damage to homes and school infrastructures.
Emergency actions taken: In the first phase, the organization offered curative attention to children. It also provided materials for repairing roofs which were damaged in the communities’ homes. In the second phase, the organization began to rebuild 6 schools which received infrastructure damage in the La Libertad Department.
- Kenya: January 2008
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A wave of violence broke out after the general elections on December 27, 2007 and continues uncontrolled. To date, the situation has left more than 650 people dead and 500,000 displaced from their homes throughout the country. Intervida, together with the local NGO Seeds of Peace Africa (SOPA) International and in collaboration with the Executive Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, lends support to displaced people in the Siaya area.
Emergency actions undertaken: Local staff are distributing humanitarian aid to displaced people in the Siaya area, while also offering sanitary and basic medical attention and searching for shelter for numerous families. The organization is also working towards the economic recovery of the area and reinforcing local peace committees.
- Bangladesh: November 2007
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On November 15, 2007, category 4 (severe) Cyclone Sidr hit the southwestern coastal area of Bangladesh with winds of up to 220-240 km/h. More than nine coastal districts were affected, with a total of 4.7 million victims. The cyclone affected 1 million families in 141 upazillas (subdistricts). More than 1.2 million homes were damaged, and of these 30% were totally destroyed and 70% were partially destroyed.
Emergency actions undertaken: 30 people from the Intervida Bangladesh team went to the affected area to distribute basic clothing and food supplies to more than 1,000 families. Currently, a second phase of assistance is being planned which would include those children who lost their schools, infrastructures for rebuilding homes, etc., but the actions to be taken have not yet been determined.
- Bolivia: February 2007
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The El Niño phenomenon left its mark on the Department of El Beni, in Bolivia, causing flooding of the Mamoré River. More than 3,000 homes were flooded and 14,000 families were affected. Additionally, more than 25,586.75 hectares of productive land was devastated, with the consequent economic losses.
Emergency actions undertaken: Distribution of humanitarian aid, consisting in food, medication, barrels for the filling with and storage of drinking water, camping tents and construction materials.
- The Philippines: November 2006
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Typhoon Durian affected the Bicol region in the southeast part of Luzon island. The winds surpassed 240 km/h and the immense amount of water which fell and its slow dispersion have made this the most devastating typhoon to hit the area in the last 50 years. More than 1,200 people were killed or missing, among them 3 children sponsored by Intervida. There were over 30,000 victims overall.
Emergency actions undertaken: Actions were taken in 22 Barangays (communities) within 4 municipalities, offering support to 5,653 families. Aid was also distributed to 2,500 school children who attend the schools supported by Intervida. Packs with basic food and vitamin supplements were provided. Currently, part of the aid destined for the Philippines is being invested in the reconstruction of schools.
- Kashmir (on the India-Pakistan border): October 2005
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On October 8, 2005, an earthquake of 7.6 degrees on the Richter scale shook the Kashmir region, on the India-Pakistan border. Nearly 80,000 people were killed, and another 2 million were affected, mainly in Pakistan; a huge quantity of materials were also lost as the results of this earthquake.
Emergency actions undertaken: An integrated emergency team of 30 people from the Intervida India health and logistics areas were dispatched to distribute humanitarian aid, medicine, warm clothes and food, as well as to construct temporary shelters where the victims could stay during the winter
- Guatemala: October 2005
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Hurricane Stan affected various tropical countries. In its wake, Hurricane Stan left 670 people dead, more than 800 people missing and a total of 3.5 million victims in Guatemala. The disaster most strongly affected those areas with the lowest human development index. A state of emergency was declared in several countries.
Emergency actions undertaken: Action was taken in 230 communities, including the evacuation of the victims to whom humanitarian aid was provided to cover their basic needs. Immediate assistance materials were delivered to those affected, including food, warm clothing, medicine and drinking water, even in the most hard-to-reach communities.
- El Salvador: October 2005
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The arrival of Hurricane Stan in El Salvador at the beginning of October 2005, together with the eruption of the Santa Ana volcano, claimed the lives of more than 70 people and left 71,000 homeless. The disaster also produced a chain of material losses, thousands of irreparably damaged homes and seriously affected roads.
Emergency actions undertaken:The victims were evacuated, and humanitarian aid was provided to over 13,700 people. In the shelters in Usulután, San Vicente and Sonsonete, sanitary packs and emergency kits were distributed, along with food and clothing.
- Muttom, India: December 2004
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A tidal wave off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia registering 9 degrees on the Richter scale caused various tsunamis on December 26, 2004, causing a chain of destruction and leaving approximately 300,000 people dead. Intervida centered its relief efforts in Muttom, India, one of the areas worst affected.
Emergency actions undertaken: Intervida worked in close collaboration with the Indian government in assisting the victims and establishing an integral project for the reconstruction and renovation of homes, the provision of boats and school materials, the construction of wells for drinking water and the recovery of the socio-economic fabric of Muttom.