OBI relief workers in Guatemala wade through the floodwaters to deliver relief aid.

EL SALVADOR – Torrential rains have pummeled the nation of El Salvador for more than a week, causing rivers to overflow their banks and mountainsides to turn to mud.

Already, 8,000 people have evacuated their homes in search of safe shelter as the floodwaters rise. But others remain in their homes to protect the belongings they have left. Leonor is one of those who stayed in the community of La Hachadura after sending her family to a local shelter.

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Her home has been flooded with several inches of rainwater—water that is now contaminated after a nearby latrine also flooded.

Her neighbor, Cecilia, also stayed in the village, but sadly, could only watch as the floods destroyed what little her family had when more than three feet of water inundated their home.

“We lost everything,” she said. “The clothes that we have left are very wet and some are buried in the mud. The mattresses were floating and we have lost everything.”

And it isn’t just Cecilia’s belongings that have been destroyed by the floodwaters, but also her family’s source of income—their small farm.

OB El Salvador teams stage a relief distribution in a community affected by flooding.

When teams from OB El Salvador arrived in La Hachadura, relief worker Tatiana Castaneda saw children running barefoot and crying, while adults were silent in grief.

In an effort to bring relief and hope to residents like Leonor and Cecilia, Operation Blessing teams distributed supplies such as clean water, rice, beans, and more.

“Thank you Operation Blessing, thank you so much for coming,” Cecilia said after receiving aid.

Operation Blessing teams are working in four communities delivering aid and assistance to affected residents. As the rains continue, OBI teams are delivering food supplies, water, mattresses and blankets to affected families. Medical teams are also treating hundreds of patients in these communities.

“Mudslides, fallen trees, fog and lots of rain haven’t stopped the OB El Salvador team,” said Tatiana. “We are still delivering supplies.”

Operation Blessing teams in Guatemala and Honduras are also mobilizing relief efforts in their respective countries as the storm continues to wreak havoc throughout Central America, distributing emergency food and other aid to hundreds of victims in shelters and affected areas.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

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