PRESS CONFERENCE ON HURRICANE DEVASTATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Press Briefing
PRESS CONFERENCE ON HURRICANE DEVASTATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA
19981103
The permanent representatives of several Central American countries appealed today for the international community to help their governments deal with the terrible damage caused by hurricane Mitch.
Speaking at a Headquarters press conference the Permanent Representative of Honduras, Hugo Noé-Pino, and the Permanent Representative of Nicaragua, Alfonso Ortega Urbino, said their countries had been devastated. They were joined by the Permanent Representatives of Costa Rica (Bernd Niehaus-Quesada); El Salvador (Ricardo G. Castaneda-Cornejo), and Guatemala (Luis Estevez).
Ambassador Noé-Pino said damage in Honduras could reach $2 billion and the Government alone was unable to assist all the people in need. The number of dead was 5,000, around 500,000 people were being housed in shelters and food, medicine and clothing were urgently needed. Seventy per cent of the country's infrastructure had been severely damaged, 75 bridges had collapsed and the main communities were all isolated.
Banana companies had losses of $850 million, he continued. Communications in all regions had been cut and many people in flooded rural areas were still sheltering in trees and on the roofs of houses, waiting to be rescued.
All countries had been affected, he said. In El Salvador, at least 150 people had died, more than 100 had disappeared and 30,000 were directly affected. Two bridges had collapsed and there were problems with electricity and telephone service. In Guatemala, there were 100 people dead, 200 had disappeared and the country's infrastructure was severely damaged. The capital, Guatemala City, was isolated from the rest of the country and people desperately needed food, fuel, medicine and clothing. In Costa Rica, 4 people had been killed and 2,000 were directly affected. Roads and bridges had been either destroyed or badly damaged.
The Permanent Representative of Nicaragua, Alfonso Ortega Urbino, said his country had suffered similar devastation. Over 70 per cent of its infrastructure, including highways, had been destroyed. More than 40 bridges had been lost and another 35 were badly damaged. Many regions were completely isolated and the highways to the north were impassable for small vehicles. People were without food, shelter, clothes and in desperate need of help. The country's economy had suffered as a result of earthquakes, civil wars, strikes and the Government was not in a position to deal with the situation. He appealed to correspondents to let the public know that any help would be appreciated.
Ambassador Noé-Pino said the flood waters also carried the threat of disease such as cholera and malaria.
Hurricane Mitch Press Conference - 2 - 3 November 1998
A correspondent asked what was the target figure for aid, particularly in Nicaragua and Honduras. Ambassador Noé-Pino said that until today airports had been closed and it had been difficult for the United Nations and international relief agencies to get into the region. However, the International Committee of the Red Cross estimated $10 million would be needed for immediate emergency assistance.
Ambassador Urbino said Nicaragua needed an estimated $15 million to $20 million for immediate needs, including several million dollars just to bury the dead and dispose of animal carcases.
Another correspondent asked about agricultural losses in Honduras, particularly to the banana crop. Ambassador Noé-Pino said 70 per cent of the country's production capacity, including 80 per cent of export crops and 60 per cent of domestic produce, such as grains, had been destroyed. The banana exporting companies, including Chickadee and United Brands, had estimated their combined losses at around $850 million. Other export crops such as coffee and melons had also been lost. The damage to grain crops would lead to severe food shortages. The World Food Programme was providing immediate relief, but the country would need much more food aid, he added.
In reply to another question about the impact on crops, Ambassador Urbino said Nicaragua did not have enough food for domestic needs and it had lost its export crops, such as bananas, coffee and melon. Even if crops had escaped damage, it was impossible to transport them because of the damage to highways. The entire country faced a critical economic situation.
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