What happened?
Millions of people across Central America had their lives torn apart by two devastating hurricanes.
Hurricane Iota struck Nicaragua on 16 November – the country’s strongest hurricane on record. The category 4 storm came just two weeks after Hurricane Eta caused devastation across Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala.
Like most disasters, Hurricane Iota hit the poorest and most vulnerable people hardest.
More than 30 people were killed as a result of the Hurricane.
Landslides and floods caused mass destruction. Homes and crops were flattened. And some 160,000 Nicaraguans and 70,000 Hondurans were forced to flee to shelters, leaving everything behind to seek safety.
Suddenly homeless, hungry and in emotional shock, people urgently needed food, water and shelter.
Our local partners responded to the need in Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala by providing essential food parcels, hygiene kits and psychosocial support to the most vulnerable.
Homes destroyed
Hundreds of thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed. Families had to leave everything to find safety.
Image credits and information
Christian Aid's response
Families that were facing lack of food, malnutrition and – living in overcrowded shelters with poor conditions and limited hygiene – were at greater risk of disease, including Covid-19. Our relief efforts focused on the most vulnerable communities living in remote areas where access was already a challenge even before these latest two hurricanes.
- In Nicaragua: Our team responded to Hurricane Eta with our partner Soppexcca. We provided food and hygiene kits to 5,000 people who were in desperate need, as well as psychosocial support to children and adults through recreational activities like drawing, drama and play.
- In Honduras: We worked with our local partners to deliver humanitarian assistance to 523 families (over 2,600 people) affected by hurricanes Iota and Eta in the Northwest of Honduras. This consisted of food parcels, including rice, flour and sugar; hygiene kits including soap, sanitary pads and face masks, and medication including antidiarrheals and antiseptic for first aid. Since families were also suffering from huge shock, we also provided psychosocial support.
- In Guatemala: We wroked with our partners, Congcoop and Caja Lúdica to identify the most vulnerable communities and asked them what their most urgent needs are.
Hurricane Prayer
Pelted by rain, battered by winds, overwhelmed with fear - Lord, protect those whose lives have been uprooted by the storms.
We pray for aid to reach those who are exposed and despairing, for your healing presence to reach those who feel cut off.
Amid the mud and destruction, precisely there, we pray that your light will give hope and strength.
As the new days dawn Lord, we pray for your ongoing protection against disease and desperation, and for those who can offer relief to hear your call to stand by those in distress.
We pray these words knowing that your power is greater than any storm and your tenderness a refuge for all.
In the name of Jesus,