A. Situation Analysis
Description of the Disaster
Tropical storms in the Southern Hemisphere affected the Pacific coasts of countries such as Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico, among others. An unusual phenomenon, which occurred 2 to 4 May 2015, brought with it waves exceeding two metres above sea level, leaving dozens of victims, evacuees and damage to infrastructure in the Central American Pacific in its wake.
Judging from reports from relief organizations and isthmus media, the Salvadorean coasts were among the hardest hit. Damage could be seen across the entire coastline in the departments of Ahuachapán, Sonsonate, La Libertad, La Paz, San Vicente, Usulután and La Union.
Of the population affected in the departments of Ahuachapán, Sonsonate, La Libertad, La Paz and Usulután, 1 person went missing, 1,367 were evacuated, 514 were in collective centres and 1,270 were self-sheltered; others migrated to areas where they had access to family shelters and to the Chapina Garita area near the border with Guatemala. In Guatemala, some 20 families from the Botoncillo and Bola de Monte areas were sheltered in Ahuachapán.
Civil Protection authorities issued an Orange Alert on 13 May as a second round of high waves hit Salvadorean coasts, which damaged housing and impacted the affected people’s water and sanitation agricultural livelihoods, as well as other basic services.
Summary of measures taken
From 2 to 4 May, more than 600 people were evacuated and more than 100 people received first aid care.
Evacuation and first aid care actions focused mainly in the Port of La Libertad in the department of La Libertad and the Port of Acajutla in the department of Sonsonate; however, all branches in El Salvador coastal areas remained active in evacuation actions and on alert to assist the population.
Needs and damage assessments were conducted from 5 to 6 May in the departments of Ahuachapán, Sonsonate, La Libertad, La Paz and Usulután. From 8 to 15 May, the Salvadorean Red Cross Society distributed humanitarian aid in the departments of Ahuchapán, Sonsonate, La Libertad, La Paz and Usulután, as described in Table 1.
Summary of measures taken
From 2 to 4 May, more than 600 people were evacuated and more than 100 people received first aid care. Evacuation and first aid care actions focused mainly in the Port of La Libertad in the department of La Libertad and the Port of Acajutla in the department of Sonsonate; however, all branches in El Salvador coastal areas remained active in evacuation actions and on alert to assist the population.
Needs and damage assessments were conducted from 5 to 6 May in the departments of Ahuachapán, Sonsonate, La Libertad, La Paz and Usulután.
From 8 to 15 May, the Salvadorean Red Cross Society distributed humanitarian aid in the departments of Ahuchapán, Sonsonate, La Libertad, La Paz and Usulután, as described in Table 1.