Officials Remind Americans That Cash Donations Are Best to Help Victims of
Floods, Mudslides in El Salvador
Embassy of El Salvador and CIDI Urge Americans to Send Cash Instead of In-Kind
Donations
to Provide Effective and Immediate Assistance
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Center for International
Disaster Information (CIDI) and the Embassy of El Salvador are encouraging
Americans who wish to help the victims of this week's devastating floods and
mudslides in El Salvador to donate cash as an alternative to in-kind donations
such as clothing and canned goods. It is widely recognized that cash
donations are the most efficient and effective means of relief, a policy
supported by CIDI's funding partner, the United States Agency for
International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and those
in the established international disaster response community.
Heavy rains caused extensive flooding and triggered more than 100 mudslides in
El Salvador on Sunday, burying communities in mud and leaving many under
water. On Tuesday afternoon, at least 157 people were believed to be dead and
dozens are still missing, according to preliminary estimates by officials on
the ground. More than 14,000 people remain in emergency shelters.
As a cold front moves into the region this week, the need for cash donations
is increasingly urgent. Cash donations can be used to buy the supplies,
clothing and emergency items needed on the ground, without the delay of
collecting, packing, shipping and distributing in-kind items.
"The best way for Americans to help is to donate cash to an established relief
agency so that they can provide the quickest onsite assistance," says Suzanne
Brooks, Director of CIDI. "We've all seen the heartbreaking images of past
international disasters, such as the tsunami, where massive amounts of
clothing and canned goods were collected in piles, left virtually untouched.
CIDI's mission is to reduce the amount of inappropriate material donations
sent to victims and to facilitate efforts by professional humanitarian relief
agencies."
Individuals and organizations interested in making contributions to help the
victims in El Salvador can get more information by visiting CIDI's website at
www.cidi.org. Additionally, interested donors can visit www.interaction.org
to obtain a list of credible responding agencies for international emergencies
and www.give.org to get valuable information on making informed decisions when
supporting charities. In addition, donors can visit www.globalgiving.org.
GlobalGiving allows donors to fund specific programs that address a range of
immediate to long-term needs.
"The government of El Salvador deeply appreciates all the effort and support
received from friends all over the world, and wishes to reassure its
commitment to act with efficiency, transparency and accountability in these
difficult moments," says Minister Francisco Altschul, Chief of Mission of the
Embassy of El Salvador and Charge d'affaires. "President Mauricio Funes has
clearly stated his special concern to guarantee that all the aid our country
receives from abroad, is managed effectively and reaches the people who need
it the most."
About CIDI
CIDI is based in Washington, DC and was created in 1988. The Center is funded
by the United States Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign
Disaster Assistance. CIDI provides individuals, groups, embassies and
corporations with information and guidance in support of appropriate
international disaster relief efforts. The organization works with a variety
of partners to channel the public's energy and desire to help to achieve
maximum impact. By reaching out to the American public and the private sector,
CIDI helps to promote activities and donations that will do the most good for
disaster victims around the world. For more information about CIDI and helping
international victims, please visit http://www.cidi.org.
SOURCE Center for International Disaster Information
Kate Houston, +1-202-944-5168, kate.houston@hillandknowlton.com, for the
Center for International Disaster Information
