Hurricane-hit country in desperate need of your help
DERBY CHARITY WANTS TO PROVIDE LIFE-SUSTAINING BASICS IN HONDURAS
A DERBY charity which helps people in Honduras is appealing for money to help victims in the Central American country which has been devastated by two hurricanes.
Children of Honduras Trust wants to send money to urgently provide food and water after the country was hit by Eta and Iota, two category four hurricanes within two weeks last month.
Some four million people out of a population of 9.5 million have been affected, with around 100 deaths and more than 150,000 people left homeless in what is one of the poorest countries Latin America.
Most houses are single-storey, many of them basic and flimsy. Many have been washed away and people have lost all their possessions.
Three hundred roads have been damaged by torrential rain, landslides, swirling mud and wind, with 48 bridges destroyed and another 32 damaged.
Families are camping under motorway bridges. More than 15,000 people sought refuge in shelters in the city of San Pedro Sula where 475 people are living in a school.
Many people are developing health problems and some are reportedly refusing to be tested for Covid-19 because they fear being stigmatised if they test positive and being pushed out of refuge shelters.
Over 41 years until 2015 Children of Honduras Trust collected goods from across the country and sent more than 1,000 tonnes of aid – particularly food, water filtration pumps, medical supplies, clothes, footwear, books and educational equipment, toys and sports items and even toilets and kitchen sinks to help thousands of children.
Founder and trustee Jennifer Cox said: “The situation in Honduras is horrific and frightening. Here, we are concerned because of Covid-19. In Honduras efforts to deal with the virus have been badly hit by these two hurricanes – even worse than Hurricane Mitch in 1998 – that have ravaged an already poor country and economy and wrecked so much infrastructure and property.
“Since we stopped sending goods from the UK, the charity has continued to send money to build some family houses, provide some basic food, fruit tree s and seeds, and sponsor some children in education. We are providing meals through feeding centres.
“But we are a small charity with limited resources and help is desperately needed. We have trusted contacts and would like to send money so they can help people. Over the years people from Derby and across the country have been very generous with their time, effort and financial gifts and we would ask if they can rise to the call again.
“We know it is not easy in this country at present but Honduras has it much worse. Humanitarian help for desperately poor children is urgently needed now to provide clean water, food and medicine to treat deadly diseases.
“Any financial help that people and organisations are able to give as we approach Christmas would be greatly appreciated.”
Online donations for CH Trust should go to www.gofundme. com/f/Honduras-Covid-19-Crisis Other donations can be made by ringing Jennifer Cox on 01332 679687.
The situation in Honduras is horrific and frightening. Jennifer Cox