Devastating Rains in El Salvador

In the month I took off from blogging something terrible happened in El Salvador.  It rained non-stop for about 2 weeks in what was called a "tropical storm".  The thing is that the storm did more damage than Hurrican Mitch in 1998, but because it was not a "hurricane" got hardly any media coverage internationally and sadly only a couple of stories in the US.  

Any of you that are friends with me on Facebook probably know that I posted relentlessly about the rains and posted on ways to help.  Even though the storm has passed, the country is in great distress.  Tim at Tim's El Salvador Blog has kept up to the minute with the disaster and has posted about every aspect, including how you can help.  Please visit his blog to learn more.  Some statistics he quotes are this: 

"The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today that 56,000 people have been displaced and many are in need of water, food and sanitation. The agency also said there has been an increase in reported cases of flood-related illnesses such as diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, chicken pox, and dengue fever."

It was really sad for me to hear what was happening down there.  It's one thing to see it happening on television, but hearing about it firsthand from your husband is another thing.  We weren't able to talk for days on end because the rains were so hard and non-stop that we couldn't even hear each other on the phone.  I sent the little money that I had to help them with whatever they needed.  I felt so helpless not being able to give more and knowing the conditions Eduardo is living in down there.  Luckily our house remains intact, but that's not the case for so many others.  It's just so sad.  

I know this certainly isn't the best coverage of the recent devastation in El Salvador, but I felt the need to mention it because the country and it's people deserve to be known about and helped.  If you feel the desire to help, there are multiple ways you can do so.  Here is a link for Tim's blog again that will give you a list of organizations you can donate to.  Also, I will accept any donations personally and send them to El Salvador to be distributed in any way that can help in our little town :)