Dear Friends and Supporters,
With your tremendous support, Proyecto Aldea Global (PAG) in coordination with the local municipalities and other local organizations, continues to support thousands of Honduran rural families with its development programs and ongoing reconstruction efforts.
It's been over a year since the devastating damages caused by tropical storms Eta & Iota, affecting many families' income and livelihoods destroyed. Even today, the majority of the affected population who lost their houses, either partially or completely, continue to live in overcrowded places, such as in a relative's house or in temporary shelters.
In summary, over the last year, the construction of 142 new houses has been completed, benefiting the same number of families. Additionally, 104 families are now living in better housing conditions after their damaged houses were improved with the installation of a new roof, concrete floors, basic sanitation services, improved house walls, etc.
Fernandez family from the municipality of Gualala in Santa Bárbara Department is one of the many families supported with a new house.
PAG's housing projects will continue this year as funding permits. We have already begun construction work of 63 additional new houses which will be completed by May of this year, and improvements on 450 more houses in Comayagua and Santa Bárbara Departments to be completed by June of this year as well.
However, we continue to receive many requests for new housing or for repairs of damaged houses. Our resources are now very limited, and we are asking for additional help for these families in special need.
Julia Montoya, an 82-year-old widow, sits by the front porch of her damaged house in the community of Sabana de Ocote, Comayagua Department.
The house walls were made of adobe earth material and wood sticks, most of which dissolved when it came in contact with the heavy rains of Eta & Iota. Some of the roofing was also destroyed by strong winds.
Julia's improved house includes a cement foundation, the adobe earth house walls were replaced with plastic tarp and wood columns. Additionally, a new roof was installed as well as concrete floors.
"Thank you for not forgetting us", expresses Julia with tears in her eyes.
More than a year has passed since Eta & Iota left many families unable to recover on their own but who continue to live in very difficult conditions. Among the main needs of the hardest hit communities affected by the natural disasters, are the rehabilitation of their damaged homes, repair of sanitary infrastructure and water supply.
PAG continues with the difficult task of repairing community water systems, where over 57,000 persons in rural communities have now had their access to water restored.
Left photo: Installation of pipe in the community of El Aguacatal where PAG also repaired houses and built basic sanitation facilities for approximately 100 Lenca Indian families.
Right photo: ongoing repairs on the Celaque water system in western Honduras where 6-inch steel pipe is being installed and welded together.
A poorly built water tank in the community of San Jose de Colinas. PAG with the support of Church World Service (CWS) and the local municipality will build a new water storage tank to benefit 45 families.
Families from the community of Ojo de Agua collect water from a small pond which they built to store water coming from a small nearby mountain spring.
PAG with the support of Hillspring Church in eastern Washington state and the local municipality will build a water collection tank and a water storage tank to benefit over 13 families living in this very poor community.
Everyday families send their children to collect water using plastic containers. Some children walk a few minutes to reach the water source while others walk for hours. It is therefore important that families have access to water in their own communities and this continues to be a priority for PAG, as water is life for these villages.
The communities most affected by tropical storms Eta & Iota continue to face great challenges with destroyed homes and the lack of water for overall hygiene and basic sanitation. Most of these communities still require humanitarian assistance in order to rebuild their lives. We need your support to continue these reconstruction efforts in Honduras!
A special thanks to our donors and friends for partnerning with us in our work in Honduras. May God richly bless each of you.
Sincerely,