The Newsletter of the Pan American Health Organization - November 2005PAHO Helps Countries Cope with Record Hurricane Season
The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season set an all-time record of 23 named tropical storms and 13 hurricanes (by Nov. 1). Following the destruction caused by hurricanes Katrina, Stan, and Rita, Hurricane Wilma left some 15,000 people homeless in Mexico and provoked widespread flooding in Cuba before moving on to batter southern Florida, USA, and the Bahamas.
Tropical Storm Alpha, the first Atlantic storm to get its name from the Greek alphabet, killed 19 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, while Hurricane Beta forced the evacuation of nearly 10,000 people in Nicaragua.
PAHO disaster experts mobilized at headquarters and in the region to assist countries in their response and recovery efforts.
All related articles:
PAHO/WHO Teams Assist in U.S. Katrina Response
Central America Struggles in Wake of Hurricane Stan
Earthquake Anniversary in Mexico Highlights Need for Safer Hospitals
Funds for Recovery
The Pan American Health and Education Foundation, PAHO's private philanthropic partner, has established special recovery funds to help Guatemala and El Salvador rebuild after suffering the effects of Hurricane Stan. Funds collected for Guatemala will be used to purchase medicines and vaccines, to support mental health teams, and to build or repair health facilities and water and sanitation projects. Funds for El Salvador will be used to help residents of Villa Centenario, a PAHO-supported healthy housing project that was severely affected by the hurricane. For more information or to donate, go to the PAHEF page.
