Within the space of less than
15 days, two hurricanes (ETA and IOTA) have devastated Honduras.
After more than 24 hours of torrential
rain, two of the largest rivers that pass through the Sula Valley, which is
made up of 18 municipalities, including San Pedro Sula which is where our San
Juan de Dios Hospital is located, broke their banks.
The floods rose up to 4
metres deep, a complete wipe-out of homes and all the maize, sugar cane, beans
and African palm crops, while damaging manufacturing firms that which are the main
source of jobs in the north-west of the country.
Official reports estimate
that an average of 2 million people have been affected, 80% of them in the Sula
Valley area.
Our hospital has lost the COVID-19
triage area, as well as medical equipment and office supplies.
The Saint John of God Station:
The St John of God Hospital
has installed the St John of God Station in the Sula Valley to provide food and
drink to the 2,500 people rescued and seeking refuge with their families or living
in temporary shelters.
The devastation left by hurricane
ETA in our area is immense, as half of the city of San Pedro Sula has been flooded.
The aftermath is not only economic, but social, because unemployment and
poverty will get even worse after this tragedy.
Brother Gudiel Sánchez
Chacón, Superior of San Pedro Sulla, passed on to us these words of one of the guests
at the St John of God station: "St John of God has saved me twice,
the first time was because I was sick,
when I was really cared for as a person, and this is the second time, as he is giving
me food because I have lost everything. Thank you for helping us and being with
us".
As part of this great St John
of God Family, we are appealing to our Brothers and Co-workers and all people
of goodwill to show their solidarity at this time with our Honduran brothers
and sisters who have been affected, so that we can continue to provide food,
basic necessities and medication to those affected.
The St John of God Foundation
in Spain has launched a campaign to help the victims of San Pedro Sulla,
channelling the aid through our Brothers in that city. The General Curia,
through the Missions and International Cooperation Office, is joining this
campaign and urging the whole Order to collaborate with it, channelling its
donations through the Juan Ciudad Foundation
If you want to help us, please
donate through https://www.juanciudad.org/?q=donaciones-puntuales
You can also do this by
sending your donation directly to this account:
Banco Santander:
ES63 0049 6096 4225 1013 7261
