U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
EL SALVADOR - Earthquake II
Fact Sheet #8, Fiscal Year (FY) 2001    March 15, 2001


Background

On January 13, 2001 at approximately 11:35 am local time, an earthquake
with a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter Scale and a depth of 60 km occurred
off the El Salvadoran coastline some 65 miles southwest of San Miguel at
12.8 degrees latitude and 88.8 degrees longitude.  On February 13, 2001 at
8:22 am local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 on the Richter
Scale and a depth of about 13 km struck El Salvador.  The earthquake's
epicenter was located some 30 km east of San Salvador in San Pedro
Nonualco in the department of La Paz, and was felt throughout El Salvador
and in Guatemala and Honduras.  The quake lasted approximately 10 seconds.  
Consistent with expected seismic activity following earthquakes of this
magnitude, aftershocks continue to occur in El Salvador.


Numbers Affected

El Salvador's National Emergency Committee (COEN) has provided data for
the table below.  The figures for the January 13 earthquake were last
updated by COEN on February 9, and on February 21 for the February 13
earthquake.  COEN is not updating information daily, but will provide new
numbers as they receive additional reports from the municipalities and
departments.


                                    People      Houses     Houses
Earthquake    Deaths    Injuries    Affected    Damaged    Destroyed

January 13      844       4,723    1,329,806    169,632     108,226
February 13     315       3,399      252,622     15,706      41,302
Total         1,159       8,122    1,582,428    185,338     149,528



Current Situation After February 13 Earthquake

Overview 

- COEN is coordinating the overall response from its Emergency Operations
Center (EOC) (e.g. conducting damage and needs assessments, compiling
assessment information, and setting relief priorities), working closely
with the Salvadoran Armed Forces and other rescue organizations.  COEN
departmental committees are working in close coordination with COEN’s main
office in relief efforts.

- The Government of El Salvador (GOES) issued a new appeal on February 13
for aid from the international community for victims of the new
earthquake.


Damages/Assessments

- The GOES estimates that the cost of rebuilding after the two earthquakes
is more than $2.8 billion.

- The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) estimate that the rehabilitation of hospitals and
health centers will cost $162 million.

- Seventeen health posts have been affected by the earthquake and will
have to operate in temporary shelters.

- The USAID/OFDA assessment team visited Cuscatlan, San Vicente, La Paz,
and San Salvador on February 16 and 18 and reported 80%-95% destruction of
buildings and homes in the visited municipalities.

- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports that hundreds of landslides
occurred around Lake Ilopango, making the road around the lake impassable
in some places.  The debris flows along the margins of Lake Ilopango have
altered drainage patterns, which could cause sediment dams to form during
the rainy season.

- USGS identified a large landslide that formed on the north flank of the
Chichontepeque Volcano, but it does not pose an immediate risk to the
sparsely populated area. The areas east and west of the landslide at Las
Colinas (site of landslides after both earthquakes) continue to be
high-risk zones.  Las Colinas has been evacuated since the January 13
earthquake.

- As of March 2, the National Water Administration (ANDA) reports that
water services have been restored in all municipalities except
Cojutepeque, Candelaria, San Ramon, Santa Cruz Michapa, and El Carmen (all
in Cuscatlan Department).  ANDA has contracted a private company to repair
the water systems in the areas affected by the February 13 earthquake.

- The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
reports that 70,000 people lack drinking water and depend on water carried
in by trucks.  UNICEF has taken the lead in organizing the provision of
water to the departments of San Vicente, Cuscatlan, and La Paz, working
closely with PAHO/WHO and ANDA.


Multilateral Organization Response

- A four-member United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination
(UNDAC) Team arrived in El Salvador on February 14 to support the United
Nations Resident Coordinator.

- OCHA allocated $30,000 for the purchase of emergency relief supplies and
similarly used three grants of $30,000 each from the governments of
Denmark, Italy, and Norway.

- PAHO/WHO issued a $5.6 million appeal on February 15 for emergency needs
in the health sector, including disease control, rehabilitation of health
infrastructure, food safety, water and sanitation, and vector control.

- The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced on February 13 the
approval of a $20 million emergency loan for El Salvador.  A $15 million
portion of the loan will be used to provide families with basic housing
kits and to fund clean-up and debris removal.  A $3.9 million portion will
go toward the control of unstable hillsides in populated areas.  In
addition, the IDB held a Consultative Group meeting for the reconstruction
of El Salvador on March 7 in Madrid, Spain.  The meeting focused on
reconstruction issues related to both earthquakes.  According to the IDB,
$1.3 billion in aid has been pledged by various countries in support of
reconstruction efforts.

- The World Food Program (WFP) is buying food supplies locally for
$537,000. This purchase will allow for the partial replenishment of stocks
(primarily maize, pulses, and vegetable oil) and for the provision of
emergency food assistance for two weeks.

- OCHA reports efficient food distribution in affected areas. WFP’s food
rations have been complemented by hot food, water, and relief items
provided by private sources and the Government of El Salvador.


Other Donors

- The governments of Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua sent rescue
brigades to help extricate people buried by landslides and collapsed
homes.

- The Government of Mexico sent 65 soldiers and air force personnel to El
Salvador on February 14, along with a medical team and medical supplies.

- The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has made
approximately $60,000 available for emergency relief.

- The Government of the Netherlands provided an emergency cash grant of
$42,000 through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

- The Government of Canada provided $675,000 through PAHO/WHO, IFRC, and
NGOs for emergency assistance.  In addition, the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) is providing $130,000 towards the PAHO appeal
for both El Salvador earthquakes.

- The Government of the Dominican Republic provided relief supplies valued
at $146,370.

- The Government of Venezuela contributed a field hospital with three
surgical rooms for the municipality of Verapaz.

- The Government of Spain (GOS) sent relief supplies, four doctors, and
five search and rescue experts to El Salvador.  The GOS has also offered
to loan the GOES $36 million to help with relief work.

- The Government of Japan gave approximately $2.1 million to the GOES for
the procurement of materials to construct 10,000 units of prefabricated
housing, and about $345,000 to the Japanese Red Cross for emergency
shelter.

- On March 13, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO)
announced that it is providing approximately $7.3 million in response to
the February earthquake, bringing its total earthquake contribution to
more than $9.1 million.  ECHO will channel the funds through several
partner NGOs and other international organizations.  Almost half of the
funding will be used to provide temporary emergency shelters and the
remainder will be used for health and water and sanitation interventions.


U.S. Government (USG) Assistance After February 13 Earthquake

- Charge d'Affaires Mark Boulware declared an earthquake disaster on
February 13, providing an immediate sum of $25,000 for the local purchase
of relief supplies.  This disaster declaration allowed for the provision
of additional USG assistance, outlined below.


USAID Personnel / Assessment Team

- Two USAID/OFDA personnel were in San Salvador at the time of the
earthquake.  They immediately began liaising with COEN, the Salvadoran Red
Cross, the Government of El Salvador (GOES), the U.S. Embassy in San
Salvador, and the USAID Mission to ascertain the extent of damage and
humanitarian needs and coordinate assistance.

- The USAID/OFDA Senior Regional Advisor for Latin America and the
Caribbean arrived in El Salvador on February 14 to lead the 4-person
USAID/OFDA assessment team.



USAID/OFDA Assistance

- USAID/OFDA has increased the number of rolls of plastic sheeting
provided to El Salvador in response to the February 13 earthquake to
4,020.  The purchase and transport of the plastic sheeting totals
$1,195,871.  USAID/OFDA will continue to purchase and transport plastic
sheeting for El Salvador through the end of April in support of temporary
shelter construction.  On March 12, 226 rolls were provided to Peace Corps
volunteers for distribution in the communities where they have been
working.  An additional 125 rolls were provided to three local
organizations.

- As part of BHR’s commitment for recovery efforts in response to the
earthquakes in El Salvador, USAID/OFDA provided USAID/San Salvador with $3
million on March 5.  This assistance will be used in support of water and
sanitation and health activities.

- USAID/OFDA is providing a total of $2,688,000 in grants to six NGOs to
build shelters for approximately 9,000 families in Cuscatlan, San Vicente,
and La Paz.  The shelter programs will utilize USAID/OFDA plastic sheeting
and involve beneficiaries in debris removal and shelter construction.  
The USAID/OFDA shelter grants will be awarded to:

  - CHF to build temporary shelters for 1,533 families ($550,654).
  - CARE to build temporary shelters for 2,500 families ($955,564).
  - Project Concern International (PCI) to build temporary shelters
    for 200 families ($30,000).
  - Samaritan's Purse to build temporary shelters for 1,061 families
    ($202,069).
  - Save the Children to build temporary shelters for 2,500 families
    ($749,195).
  - Lutheran World Federation to build temporary shelters for 1,200
    families ($199,680).


- On February 16, USAID/OFDA provided $530,000 for the local purchase of
relief supplies, administrative support, and the establishment of 18
temporary health posts.  Funds are also supporting the temporary provision
of potable water to three hospitals until water tanks are installed to
meet interim water needs.  Using these funds, USAID/OFDA has:

  - provided a total of $150,000 to CARE, Save the Children, and
    Samaritan's Purse for the local purchase and distribution of
    relief commodities.
  - provided $100,000 to the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) for
    the construction of 18 temporary health posts for severely affected
    towns and rural villages currently lacking emergency medical
    facilities.
  - locally purchased 10,000 blankets, 10,000 mattresses, 14,000
    5-gallon water jugs, and 15,035 3-gallon water jugs with potable
    water.  In Cuscatlan Department, Save the Children will distribute
    all of the 3-gallon water jugs, mattresses, and blankets, and
    6,000 of the 5-gallon water jugs.  CARE will distribute 8,000
    5-gallon water jugs in the departments of Cuscatlan, San Vicente,
    and La Paz.



Other USG Assistance

- On March 2, U.S. President George Bush met with El Salvador’s President
Flores and announced that the USG has pledged $52 million in
post-earthquake reconstruction assistance to El Salvador for FY 2001.  
This funding is being channeled through USAID/San Salvador.

- USAID's Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) is contributing 1,750 MT of
P.L. 480 Title II emergency food commodities valued at $917,700 to WFP to
replenish the stocks it has distributed to the victims of the January 13
and February 13 earthquakes.  USAID/FFP is also planning to contribute 900
MT of rice.

- WFP is conducting the first comprehensive food survey in response to the
earthquakes.  A USAID/Guatemala staff member will accompany the WFP team.

- Three helicopters (2 Blackhawk and 1 Chinook) from the Department of
Defense's (DOD) Southern Command responded to priorities established by
COEN and the Salvadoran Armed Forces from February 14 to 16 at a cost of
$116,000. The helicopters were used to move Salvadoran military personnel
and transport injured victims to the military hospital in San Salvador.
The Chinook was used to transport a Mexican army field hospital.

- DOD's Southern Command is delivering a shipment of construction
equipment, including two five-ton dump trucks, two twenty-ton dump trucks,
two bulldozers, and one truck.  The shipment is scheduled to arrive on
April 1 and is valued at $944,000, including transportation costs.  
Southern Command is also planning a shipment of tents, blankets, and
sheets in mid-April.  Total cost for these items including transport is
$880,000.

- On February 18, DOD's Southern Command deployed a Medical Readiness
Training (MEDRETE) unit consisting of DOD reserve medical personnel
training for deployment to disasters.  The training exercise was
rescheduled to allow for response to the February 13 earthquake.  The
MEDRETEs were in the departments of Usulutan, La Paz, and Cuscatlan and
provided patients with outpatient care through February 29.

- USGS personnel in the region conducted aerial assessments of damage from
the February earthquake.



Mitigation Assistance

- For more than 10 years, USAID/OFDA has provided extensive training in El
Salvador and neighboring Central American countries to increase their
local capacity to prepare for and respond to natural disasters.  Courses
include Damage and Needs Assessment, Advanced First Aid, and Rescue from
Collapsed Structures.

- USAID/OFDA also contributes funds to GeoHazards International (GHI) to
reduce seismic hazards in San Salvador as part of a larger grant
supporting similar work in 12 other earthquake-prone cities along the
Pacific Rim.

- USAID/OFDA provided USGS with $30,000 to assess the risk of flooding,
erosion, and slope failure due to landslides, which may occur during the
rainy season.  Six USGS technical experts will arrive in El Salvador by
March 15.


USAID/BHR Funding Summary 

USG Agency
Action
Funding

USAID/OFDA
Disaster Assistance Authority for local purchase of relief supplies
$25,000

USAID/OFDA
4,020 rolls of plastic sheeting
$1,195,871

USAID/OFDA
Local purchase of relief supplies
$530,000

USAID/OFDA
Shelter grants to CHF, CARE, PCI, Samaritan’s Purse, Save the 
Children, and Lutheran World Federation 
$2,688,000

USAID/OFDA
Fundcite for USAID/San Salvador recovery efforts
$3,000,000

Total
USAID/OFDA Assistance for February 13 Earthquake
$7,438,871

USAID/FFP
1,750 MT of P.L. 480 Title II Food Commodities
$917,700

Total
USAID/BHR Assistance for February 13 Earthquake
$8,356,571

USAID/OFDA
Total Assistance for January 13 Earthquake
$6,152,399

TOTAL
USAID/BHR Assistance for January 13 and February 13 Earthquakes
$14,508,970



Public Donation Information

- In the interest of effective coordination of public response, USAID
encourages the public to contact directly those private voluntary
organizations (PVOs) currently working in the region to provide monetary
donations.

- A list of the PVOs may be obtained from the USAID web site at
http://www.usaid.gov/.  Those interested in providing specific technical
relief services or commodities should contact Volunteers in Technical
Assistance's (VITA's) Disaster Information Center for information and
guidelines at 703-276-1914.

- USAID will not deviate from standard Denton Program procedures for
transporting privately donated relief supplies.  USAID will prioritize
delivery of essential relief commodities.  For more information on the
Denton Program, please refer to the USAID website at
http://www.usaid.gov/hum_response/pvc/denton.html.

- For additional information about the relief effort in El Salvador,
please refer to the Natural Disasters section of ReliefWeb at
http://www.reliefweb.int/.

- The American Red Cross donations hotline is 1-800-HELP NOW.

- El Salvador's National Commission for Solidarity, charged with receiving
and distributing contributions from the international community, provides
official guidance for cash donations at http://www.rree.gob.sv/.


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Volunteers in Technical Assistance
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El Salvador Earthquakes           http://www.cidi.org/disaster/els.1a13