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ARTICLE ON CAHRA FOR ENLACE
HURRICANE MITCH - A SOLIDARITY RESPONSE
For many of LASC ís members the horrific pictures of Hurricane Mitch
immediately brought to mind places they knew well or had visited in
Central America. Many of us have worked in Nicaragua or in other countries
of the region, either on long-term assignments or on solidarity brigades.
In the years when the people of Nicaragua suffered the full brunt of US
aggression and constant attacks from the Contra, many people from Ireland
went to show solidarity with the Sandinistas and the people of Nicaragua in
their struggle to build a new society. Many of the Nicaraguans we worked
alongside became close friends, and have stayed in contact over the years.
As the extent of the hurricane destruction unfolded on our television
screens we received phone calls and e-mails describing the levels of
devastation, loss and hardship and the immediate response by many of the
local organisations on the ground.
One contact who comes from the LeÛn area of Nicaragua has pleaded with us
to send help directly rather than through official channels: ìAnd I ask
that those who support us do it directly so that their help goes straight
to the local emergency committees. Those of us who live alongside those who
have been affected, who hear the mothers who cry for those they have lost,
and cry even more for those who have survived but who are dying of hunger,
only we can really feel the heartfelt despairing tragedy of the Nicaraguan
people.î
Meanwhile, Cristina Rodriguez, whom many Irish people will have met when
she visited Ireland some years ago says that in her area of Chinandega ìThe
government is providing no support, indeed many of the people who have been
left homeless have been forced to go and work picking coffee in other
areas. The situation is terrible. But we feel that the only hope is in
solidarity; because it gives us great strength to continue fightingî
CAHRA IS LAUNCHED
Although neither LASC not the Irish Nicaragua Support Group are established
aid agencies, people here wanted to do what they could to help. Our
friends and contacts on the ground needed our solidarity. While the INSG
had already begun to raise funds among its own members, LASC launched a
more general appeal, calling it Central America Hurricane Relief Appeal -
CAHRA. A fitting title for an expression of friendship between people here
and friends in Central America.
To date over £50,000 has been raised, and funds continue to come in. An
initial disbursement of US$8,500 was sent to provide emergency food and
supplies to 5 areas in Nicaragua we were in direct contact with immediately
following the hurricane. These were communities where our members have
worked and know many of the people very well. Representatives from some of
those communities have visited Ireland in recent years. In all cases there
were established relief programmes being run by the local organisations we
were supporting.
And now for the next phase. Reconstruction. Although there is still a
need for emergency relief it is vital that these communities have the
means to reconstruct their livelihoods and earning power, whether that be
agricultural production or some other activity. CAHRA has agreed that a
minimum of 80% of the funds raised should be directed towards long-term
initiatives by the communities. So, while one cooperative we are in
contact with has asked us to help them replace the 2 cows and 4 calves
which were drowned, we have received other requests for equipment and
supplies for health programmes as well as many for funds to purchase
chickens and seed for replanting food crops. Requests have come from all
countries of the region.
CAHRA is committed to getting assistance directly to people in order that
they can stay in their own communities and reconstruct their lives.
Specific criteria for the projects have been sent to over 20 organisations
in Central America. However any readers who have contact with groups or
organisations in the region who might like to present a request should
contact LASC for information on the criteria and application process.