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WMI Response to Flood Emergency in Honduras

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WMI is Coordinating a Quick Response to Provide Safe Water for Cooking and Drinking to Flood Victims in Honduras 


























The WMI Office in Honduras has received requests from the Honduras Government officials to help provide safe, drinking water for the victims of the current ongoing situation in western and southern areas of the country due to the heavy rains all over the country in the past two weeks.  The request for help was referred to us through Mr. Albert Portuguez, who contacted us with the local Honduras officials to coordinate the humanitarian assistance.

We have been in contact with following official agencies in order to make the preliminary coordination for this humanitarian aid to reach the areas of the floodings:
- The First Lady Office, through Mrs. Perla Caceres
    http://www.presidencia.gob.hn/index.php/travel
- The Agriculture Department, Through Mr. Jose Garcia
    http://www.sag.gob.hn/
- Honduras Army, through Cl. Ryes Discua
    www.ffaah.mil.hn/
- COPECO
    http://copeco.gob.hn/n/

The latest development we have to make this cooperation possible is that we'll prepare 5 LWTS Systems to leave Tocoa tomorrow as early as 10AM.  We at WMI are very happy to help spread safe water for the needy in these disaster areas with the cooperation of the above mentioned Government Agencies.  As soon as we have some media content to share, we'll post it in this entry.

Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011-
News of Honduras about the current emergency:
- http://tiempo.hn/index.php/portada/8774-el-rio-aguan-nuevamente-amenaza-con-cortar-el-paso
- http://tiempo.hn/index.php/portada/8775-ayuda-a-cuenta-gotas-les-llega-a-los-surenos
- http://tiempo.hn/index.php/portada/8769-otro-fenomeno-climatologico-obliga-a-extender-las-alertas
- http://tiempo.hn/index.php/portada/8767-bcie-entrega-250-mil-dolares-en-apoyo-a-las-emergencias
- http://laprensa.hn/Secciones-Principales/Honduras/Apertura/Copeco-amplia-alertas-en-Honduras-por-nueva-amenaza-del-clima

The local WMI staff in Tocoa continues working hard to get the Water Treatment Systems ready as soon as possible for them to leave our warehouse today.
WMI's Erlin Henriquez, Leonel Ayestas, Jesus Flores and Nelson Rodriguez working hard today at the Tocoa warehouse to get the systems ready to leave to Choluteca/Valle

We have received a preliminary list of Two sites for the first installations in Nacaome, Valle and will be receiving the other locations during the day. 


The WMI Volunteers that will travel to install and train operators of these emergency Systems have been selected and will travel along with the equipment to the disaster areas.  They are Erlin Henriquez and Rodolfo Oliva
Rodolfo Oliva and Erlin Henriquez will be working with the Government Agencies to get these systems running and working to provide desperately needed safe water for displaced people in the flooded areas of Choluteca and Valle.
Honduras military helping at the WMI headquarters in Tocoa.

As of 4.00PM, we have completed assembly, check up and shipment of the 5 LWTS systems to help the people in southern Honduras.  The systems were loaded to two military trucks and left the Office to La Ceiba, where they will continue to Tgu Sunday morning, and then on to the affected areas.


We hope this helps a lot the victims of the floods to prevent many illnesses that come after flooding by providing safe drinking water to all victims as soon as possible.  As negotiated with the first Lady's Office, the WMI volunteers/technicians will leave Tuesday or Wednesday to complete installation once COPECO certifies safety for the Systems in the sites where they will serve their purpose.


Each LWTS system provide safe water for up to 1,000 families (3,500-5,000 persons) so, we could reach up to 50,000 people in designated areas with these first 5 Systems.  We hope to receive more request from SAG, FL Office, COPECO, Presidencia de la Republica and any other agency to continue reaching the victims during this emergency.

Blessings to all...


Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011-
Today, we received notice from Perla Caceres of the First Lady's Office that the 5 LWTS Plants have arrived safely to Tgu as of noon.  We hope to receive more news as soon as possible to proceed with sending the Volunteer/Technicians that will work installing them and providing training to Operators in the disaster areas where each System will provide water to thousands of people

 
Monday, Oct. 24, 2011  -  Wed, Oct. 26, 2011
We had several meetings with Honduras Government officials such as the First Lady's Office, VP Office (Samuel Reyes) and COPECO in order to speed up the installation process of the Five Systems in the needy area since they are standing by in the parking lot of the Presidential Palace and WMI Policy is that every emergency assistance should be deployed as quickly as possible to the affected people in the target areas.


After several calls, meetings and negotiations, the Systems were ready to leave the Presidential Palace early Thursday to the Departments of Valle and Choluteca.

Our volunteer technicians, Rodolfo Oliva and Erlin Henriquez left late afternoon Balfate and Tocoa area, respectively, driving all night to get to Tgu about 4am on Thu., picked up some materials at the Agriculture Dept and leave to the affected areas.


Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011 - Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011
 The Systems were transported by the Honduras Military and got to Nacaome, Valle about 8am of Thu, where the Honduras President -Porfirio Lobo- would make a delivery ceremony to the Four Mayors of the four different Municipalities where the five Systems would be installed.

Amongst the Mayors and other people that contributed locally to make a successful installation of these Systems are:
* Mr.Victor Flores, Mayor of Nacaome, Valle (Two LWTS's)
* Mr. Naun Calix, Mayor of Marcovia, Choluteca
* Mr. Rafael Mendoza, Mayor of Apacilagua, Choluteca
* Mr. Ramon Green, Mayor of Pespire, Choluteca
* Ing. Desiderio Martinez, SAG Representative




Our Technicians started moving the Systems with the assistance of local authorities as stated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Mr. Lisandro Rosales as Commissioned Minister of COPECO (National Contingency Agency) later that afternoon to the different Communities to be installed as follows:

1-  Community of Playa Grande (Municipality of Nacaome, Department of Valle)






Some photos about the LWTS installation in Playa Grande

2- Bo. Santa Maria (Municipality of Nacaome, Department of Valle)






Installation of the LWTS System in Bo. Santa Maria

3- Community of Los Llanitos (Municipality of Marcovia, Department of Choluteca)






Photos of the installation event of the LWTS in Los Llanitos

4-  Bo. El Centro (Municipality of Apacilagua, Department of Choluteca)




Installation of the LWTS System in Apacilagua, Choluteca

5-  Bo. Abajo (Municipality of Pespire, Department of Choluteca)




This slide shows some photos of the safe water system installed in Pespire, Choluteca

Besides the above information, all these installations have entered the WMI projects database, where we will input all the follow up information for each site as follows:
Playa Grande, Nacaome:

Bo. Santa Maria, Nacaome:

Aldea Los Llanitos, Marcovia:

Bo. El Centro, Apacilagua:

Bo. Abajo, Pespire:
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1 comentario:

  1. Nelson Rodriguez22 de octubre de 2011, 10:47 a. m.

    Water Mission International's staff is working since early in the morning to finalize the check ups of the Living Water Treatment Systems that will be taken to the southern part of the country. These systems will purify water for several needs such as cooking, drinking, cleaning, etc. We are glad to work together as a team to help our Honduran brothers and sisters in this time of need.

    ResponderBorrar

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