Pan American Health Organization Appeals for $5.6 million for Humanitarian Assistance for El Salvador After Second Earthquake

Washington, February 15, 2001 (PAHO) - The Pan American Health Organization today issued a new appeal for $5.6 million in humanitarian assistance for emergency needs in the health sector of El Salvador following Tuesday's second deadly earthquake, which left at least 255 dead, thousands homeless, and severely damaged rural water systems.

"This new appeal in the amount of US $5.6 million reflects the current new emergency situation. It also includes medium term needs identified in the flash appeal such as ensuring the rehabilitation of water systems and health facilities," the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said in a statement. The cumulative impact of both earthquakes caused "damages to important health infrastructures and in difficulties involved in providing adequate health services and safe drinking water and sanitation to the large number of displaced persons in shelters," the Organization added.

The Jan. 13 earthquake killed more than 800 persons and left 600,000 homeless. The Feb. 13 earthquake killed at least 255 persons, injured 2,300, left some 83,000 homeless, and severely damaged 21 public sector buildings. "The health infrastructure already damaged in the first quake was crippled in the resulting quake. The San Vicente Hospital lost all functional capacity during the 13 February quake. In contrast to the first earthquake, there was significant damage to water supply systems and in rural areas," according to the PAHO appeal.

Serious outbreaks of communicable diseases continue to strain the country’s health resources. "All together, the vulnerability of the country and its health institutions is high," PAHO said. Efforts are needed to control dengue, malaria, cholera and diarrhea, as well as diseases that could emerge due to crowded conditions in shelters.

"The impact of the first quake had severe consequences in the area of mental health, particularly among the most vulnerable segments of the population such as children. This has been magnified by the occurrence of the second-and entirely unexpected-earthquake," the PAHO appeal said.

PAHO's appeal for international assistance includes requests for $2.2 million for rehabilitation of health infrastructures, $700,000 for epidemiological surveillance and disease control, $650,000 for water quality control and environmental health, $500,000 for disaster preparedness, $400,000 for control of disease vectors, $350,000 for mental health, $300,000 for rehabilitation of clinical laboratories damaged in the quake, and $200,000 for food safety.

Pan American Health Organization staff from its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and from other countries in the Americas went to El Salvador following the earthquakes and worked with Salvadoran officials in evaluating the health infrastructure, assuring clean water, carrying out epidemiological surveillance for diseases, and expanding health promotion, especially in the area of mental health.

El Salvador was experiencing a major outbreak with more than 5,000 cases of gastroenteritis (diarrheal disease) prior to the earthquake. Easily transmissible through water, food or direct contact, this outbreak might be exacerbated by breakdowns in water quality control and the overall sanitation. Similarly, improper solid waste control in earthquake-affected areas could contribute to the proliferation of the vectors responsible for the dengue epidemic, which in 2000 was a serious threat to the population.

PAHO, which also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, has been working to improve health and raise living standards in all the countries of the Americas since 1902.