Ten days of heavy rains in Central America have killed an estimated
123 persons, have forced tens of thousands from their homes,
destroyed crops, livelihoods and infrastructure.

IOM is working with governments in El Salvador, Guatemala, and
Nicaragua and Honduras, as well as national and international
partners, and is appealing for USD 2,783,926 to provide emergency
assistance to the affected communities.

In El Salvador, where 35 persons have been reported dead and
almost 55,000 evacuated to more than 600 shelters throughout the
country, IOM immediately put together two teams that were
dispatched to the field, alongside government emergency personnel,
to carry out a preliminary assessment.  The teams, deployed to
the departments of Ahuachapán and Sonsonate, focused on
urgent shelter needs.

Jorge Sagastume, IOM Shelter and Emergency Coordinator in El
Salvador, headed one of the teams: "The field assessment began each
morning with the planning of the day's route to ensure that all
shelters were visited.  We spoke to the population and took
note of their needs and stories, which were compiled at the end of
the day into one report for one coordinated response."

Based on preliminary findings in El Salvador, IOM is appealing
for USD 1.7 million, which includes USD 288,997 from the UN's
Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to ensure that temporary
shelters are established in secure areas and comply with minimum
safety standards, manage the shelters, and provide basic materials
to improve the shelter.

The last two weeks of rains have already surpassed recorded
levels for the past 50 years.  According to the Salvadoran
Ministry of Natural Resources, almost 60 inches (150 centimetres)
of rain have fallen in the past 10 days.  The cumulative
record for Hurricane Mitch, which in 1998 killed 11,000 people in
the region, was 34 inches (86 centimetres).

"Many communities in El Salvador are still cut off because of
the high waters and mudslides.  There are bridges and roads
that have been destroyed or badly damaged.  We could be facing
serious health risks and food shortages if the affected population
does not receive the support it needs," explained Norberto
Girón, IOM Chief of Mission in El Salvador.

Foods prices are reported to have climbed 10 per cent in the
past few days.  Initial estimates point to 80 per cent of the
corn, beans and vegetable crops completely wiped out or
damaged.  Sugar cane, coffee, honey, fish farms, beef and pork
production have also been affected.

In Guatemala, where 38 people are reported dead and more than
520,000 have been affected, IOM is requesting USD 446,552 from the
CERF to repair and upgrade basic living and sanitary conditions in
temporary shelters and provide non-food emergency assistance to the
estimated 15,891 persons in need.

"Our initial assessments in Guatemala have confirmed that those
who have family or friends living on higher ground have fled their
flooded homes and taken refuge with them.  And those who do
not have that option have gone to official shelters which include
schools, churches and gymnasiums.  These shelters are in
desperate need of upgrading so that the families have adequate
living conditions," said Delbert Field, IOM Chief of Mission in
Guatemala.

As the lead agency in charge of shelter, IOM Nicaragua is
working with its partners to rebuild and rehabilitate existing
shelters, strengthen the capacity of shelter managers and
distribute non-food items (house cleaning implements, kitchen kits,
comfort kits, and hygiene kits) to families in shelters. IOM and
its partners will also provide protection and psychosocial support
to some 4,000 children and adolescents in emergency shelters in
five departments and contribute to the prevention of gender-based
violence in emergency shelters in Managua.

To carry out these activities in Nicaragua, and as part of the
UN Flash Appeal, IOM is appealing for USD 637,374.

The Honduran Government reported 28 deaths and almost 60,000
persons directly affected.   The southern departments of
Choluteca and El Valle have reported the most damage.  Using
available limited resources, IOM in coordination with government,
UN and NGO partners, will assess needs and assist in the
coordination of further emergency shelters if needed.

In the past 40 years, the region has endured a multitude of
natural disasters that have killed some 50,000 people and caused
hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

For more information, please contact:

Niurka Piñeiro

IOM Washington

Tel: +1 202 862 1826

E-mail: "mailto:npineiro@iom.int">npineiro@iom.int

Yulissa Guevara

IOM El Salvador

Tel: +503.2521.0500

E-mail: "mailto:yuguevara@iom.int">yuguevara@iom.int  

Sebastian Berkovich

IOM Guatemala

Tel: +502.2314.0086

E-mail: "mailto:sberkovich@iom.int">sberkovich@iom.int  

Carmen Paola Zepeda

IOM Nicaragua

Tel: +505.2278.9569

E-mail: "mailto:czepeda@iom.int">czepeda@iom.int 

Juan Ramón Rivera

IOM Honduras

Tel: +504.2220.1104

E-mail: "mailto:jramon@iom.int">jramon@iom.int