Hurricane Mitch:

Death and
Destruction
Hurricane Mitch destroyed parts Central American countries in
the space of two weeks. Killing over 9000 people and making over
a million people homeless.
Hurricane Mitch was declared a hurricane on the 24th of October. It
passed over Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, before dying out
over Mexico. It began in the Caribbean Sea on the 6th of November.
The effects of Mitch were huge on the landscape. Mitch flattened
crops, with winds that also destroying houses and power lines. Intense
rains causing rapid mud slides, causing soil erosion, which caused
rivers to flood. These floods destroying buildings made 1500km of
roads impassable and left several metres of mud.
There was a huge effect on the people as well. Flattened crops ruined
harvests and farming is the main occupation in Central America and
farm products the main exports.
The worst hit country was Honduras with over 5000 dead and 50% of
crops ruined and flattened. Florida was the only state of America
which had deaths; they were 2 fishermen who drowned due to their
boat capsizing.
The aid for the people and the countries has come from charities like
Oxfam and neighbouring countries. Most of these countries hit did not
have supplies equipment like bulldozers or helicopters so aid was
needed. also the need for emergency supplies to make sure the
survivors do survive. Food clothing and blankets were need also water
purification kits and medicines to prevent disease. This was provided
by charities like red cross. The effected countries needed help with
rebuilding to help put the country back on there feet, but they were
too poor to recover by themselves.
If you would like to donate to charity to help these countries phone:
0800 5050.
Or you can go to the hurricane Mitch support website:
WWW.MitchSupport.com