Floods in El Salvador

Families gathering their possessions and leaving the area in fear of mudslides

The situation in the country

Torrential rain and mudslides have claimed the lives of 33 victims in El Salvador with more than 6,200 homeless people sheltering in temporary accommodation. Heavy downpours at the end of September, together with uninterrupted rain since 1st October have caused severe flooding in some parts of the capital Cabanas San Salvador (Plan Programme Unit 323) and widespread land- and mudslides making most roads unsafe.
 
Plan-affiliated communities

There have been no reports of casualties among families living in Plan-affiliated communities.
 
Plan staff are busy gathering information on the situation and providing emergency relief assistance to families who had to flee their homes but are now in safe areas.
 
La Libertad (Plan Programme Unit 328) There are several temporary shelters in the area and Plan is providing assistance to families suffering hardship despite having found shelter with relatives or friends. The area is the worst affected with 20 communities not having received any emergency assistance because the roads were blocked by mudslides. Plan is delivering food and emergency kits to approximately 600 families in these communities and has so far delivered - in 48 shelters in La Libertad area - 1,189 sanitary kits (water, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste and toothbrushes, diapers, sanitary pads, toys, towels and blankets), 15 tons of basic grains (rice, beans and corn mix) and 310 mattresses.
 
Chalatenango (Plan Programme Unit 324) Approximately 30 families living in high-risk areas have been evacuated from their homes and at least 5 houses have been damaged beyond repair.

A family outside their home

Plan response

Plan has made available emergency relief funds for our Programme Units to provide families with immediate assistance, especially drinking water, first-aid kits, personal hygiene items, household utensils, mattresses, blankets and psychological support, including toys and entertainment for the youngest children.
 
Plan is in close contact with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP) to co-ordinate relief efforts with other international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The overall situation is generally perceived as very serious but still “manageable”. The weather outlook is not good, however, and the situation could clearly worsen quickly. The soil is completely saturated with water and this may cause landslides even after the rains stop. Most casualties thus far have been caused by landslides, collapsing structures and sometimes careless accidents, rather than the flooding itself.

How you can help

You can support our work to assist the victims of the floods in the affected communities. Click here to make a secure online donation or call us on 0800 1300 230.