USAID: Honduras

Emergency Response

Responding to an Emergency

In the wake of Hurricane Mitch the U.S. Government moved quickly to meet the needs of Hondurans whose lives had been turned upside down by the storm, providing more than $100 million in emergency aid. U.S. military aircraft flew into action conducting search and rescue missions and distributing emergency food and supplies to communities otherwise cut off from the world. The United States Government dispatched a team of emergency response experts from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and from Dade County, Florida, to advise the Honduran government.

As the floodwaters receded, USAID began extending grants to local non-governmental organizations that had been in place before Hurricane Mitch and thus could rapidly get help to the tens of thousands of Hondurans who desperately need it. The NGOs responded with food, clothing, household items, medical attention and supplies. They set up emergency shelters and water and sanitation systems. And they aided in the cleanup, removing mud and debris and taking measures that quelled the very real threat of large-scale epidemics.

Approximately 20 percent of Honduran families could not get enough food when the storm had passed. Many of these people were also facing homelessness. They needed food assistance in order to re-establish their means of economic survival and begin the search for permanent housing.

To address food needs and the reconstruction effort, a USAID financed Food-For-Work program was implemented to support the clean-up and reconstruction effort immediately following the disaster.

The projects included rehabilitation of the local infrastructure including roads, public buildings, and water and sanitation systems. Food-for-Work programs not only benefited those receiving food assistance, but also the thousands more who benefited from the improved infrastructure.

$42 million in USAID funding for emergency food assistance and transportation was provided, primarily through three NGOs — CARE, Catholic Relief Services, and the World Food Program. These organizations divided up the country to avoid duplication of effort and worked closely with each municipality assigned to them. Each NGO collaborated with local leaders to determine priority needs and develop Food-for-Work programs that responded to those needs. They partnered with other NGOs that have experience working in local communities.

In the first month after the hurricane, existing Title II food stocks were redirected from the regular food security program, thus preventing hunger throughout Honduras. USAID organized the largest airlift since Berlin, bringing in 1,200 metric tons of food commodities.

The USAID funded NGOs went into action in more than 2,000 communities, clearing mud and debris from roads, streets, and cemeteries, building drainage canals and aiding with basic repairs of schools, community centers, churches and clinics. Over 3,500 kilometers of access roads and streets were cleared and repaired.

USAID provided $27.8 million in immediate disaster and recovery assistance, including the repair of damaged water and sanitation systems to prevent an outbreak of disease.

USAID also redirected $33 million in program funding and food assistance to initiate reconstruction activities prior to the United States Congress’ passage of the Supplemental Reconstruction Appropriation.