THE Episcopal Church in the United States is working with its partner organisations in El Salvador to determine its response to the devastating flooding in the central American country, after it was hit by Hurricane Ida last week.
The Episcopal News Service reported that the Episcopal Relief and Development agency was assessing the situation in the Anglican diocese of El Salvador, together with its partners, Asociación CREDHO and Asociación Mangle. The Church is providing pastoral support in the Bajo Lempa and San Vicente regions, two of the worst-affected.
At least 140 people are reported to have been killed in the floods, with 49 of the victims believed to be children. The UN Food Programme said that thousands of survivors are lacking a basic food-supply after torrential rains destroyed crops.
The Bishop of El Salvador, the Rt Revd Martin Barahona, Primate of the Anglican Church of the Central American Region, described the hurricane as “the worst natural event of the year”, which “intensifies the social and economic problems with which we live.
“We are praying for the families and are in communication with other institutions and sister churches at the national, regional, and international level to plan our level of action right now and after the emergency.”
The President of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes, has declared a national emergency.