THE CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
CWS EMERGENCY APPEAL: NICARAGUA DROUGHT
EMERGENCY ACCOUNT #6731
$48,550
September 7, 2001


SITUATION: Nicaragua is among the Central American nations affected by a
serious drought. The areas most affected by the drought are located in the
northern part of the country, particularly Chinandega and Leon provinces.

The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that 47 municipalities are affected
by the drought, 38 of which have lost more than 50 percent of their crops,
affecting some 21,544 families. The situation has become desperate in many
areas, with many people reportedly surviving on mangoes and roots.

Compounding the country's problems is a decline in the international price
of coffee, which has caused a massive unemployment and migration of coffee
plantation workers to the city of Matagalpa - located in a region also
badly hit by the drought.

"Some are suffering from diarrhea, fevers, acute respiratory and kidney
diseases, and chronic malnutrition," said CWS partner CEPAD (Council of
Evangelical Churches) in a recent report. Also affecting the country are
floods on the Atlantic coast, which are causing a loss of crops. Floods
have affected 1,396 families there.

The drought is the most serious disaster to affect Nicaragua and the
region since Hurricane Mitch in 1998.



RESPONSE: CEPAD is responding to the disasters with a program that has
three components: rehabilitate food production on a small scale, through
financing small farmers in specific communities; provide basic staples to
alleviate food needs in specific communities; and provide pastoral care to
the affected families.

Specifically, CEPAD seeks to assist 200 families from 18 communities of
Matagalpa, Jinotega, San Francisco Libre, Chinandega and Bluefields with
monthly food packets for four months. These packets include 10 pounds of
corn, 20 pounds of beans, 20 pounds of rice and 1 gallon of oil per month.

In addition, CEPAD will provide pastoral care to the 200 families through
two visits and workshops of two days each.

In the area of rehabilitation, CEPAD seeks to finance two pieces of
irrigation equipment at $900 each for the communities of Pacora and San
Jorge-San Juan in Managua for planting of vegetable gardens. It also
proposes to assist 150 families in the communities of Matagalpa, Jinotega
and San Francisco Libre with the planting of vegetable gardens.

Budget:
  Food costs (beans, corn, rice, oil): $14,050
  Transportation costs:  $1,000
  Rehabilitation projects, including planting of garden: $26,700
  Technical Assistance and Administrative Expenses: $6,800
  Total: $ 48,550


For further details about the response, including specific budget items,
please contact CWS ERP.

Church World Service is urging full support of this appeal from its member
denominations.

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Nicaragua Drought, #6731, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN,
46515. Phone pledges or credit card donations: 1-800-297-1516.

On-line contributions to: www.churchworldservice.org
Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is
responding, contact CWS Emergency Response.

Telephone: (212) 870-3151
E-mail: cherlinger@ncccusa.org
After-hours emergency pager: (800) 780-0853
Web site: www.cwserp.org


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