Nicaragua Devastated by Hurricane Felix – Help Urgently Needed

Hurricane Felix made landfall as a powerful level 5 hurricane, just south of the border last week between Nicaragua and Honduras in a region known as the Mosquito Coast.  Nicaragua devastated by Hurricane Felix help urgently needed.

Nicaragua bore the brunt of Felix and Honduras endured the heavy rains. The Nicaraguan people have suffered greatly, and have had more than their share of disasters.  Most of these people never recovered from Hurricane Mitch in October1998.  At last count the death toll from Felix is over 100 victims with as many as 400 Mosquito Indians still missing.  Many of these victims were out fishing when the storm hit or were in the low lying areas.

Local missionaries Bob and Myra Trolese based in Nicaragua with Verbo Christian Ministries flew out to Puerto Cabezas after the hurricane hit.  They are reporting that the devastation is terrible.  Most of the trees have been snapped in half due to the strength of the storm.  96% of the harvest has been lost, including the rice crop which was almost ready to harvest.  Approximately 150,000 Nicaraguans have been affected by this storm and over 25,000 families.   More than 9,000 homes have been completely destroyed with another 6,500 damaged.  While the Trolese’s were there they visited a number of the Mosquito villages.  Most of these villages were completely wiped out.  The survivors still hoping to get news on their missing loved ones waited by the pier for news and watched for the boats to come in with the victims.  While at one village a large plastic bag was brought in containing 10 bodies.  Due to the heat most of the bodies are being burned or left at sea.  Most likely most of the families will never get to bury their missing loved one. 

While in one small Mosquito village, Bob and the other men left.  Myra stayed and walked near a Moravian church.  A group of small children, mostly little girls holding younger siblings surrounded her.  None of them spoke Spanish, it was frustrating to her not to be able to communicate. She remembered a song, the only thing she knew in Miskit and sang it to them.  It was one small way to communicate to them.

Another village, there was a family that’s home had fallen to the ground.  They had put up a primitive makeshift hut.  The wife had just given birth and they had two other children.  The only thing they had to eat was a green papaya.

The Samaritan Purse has flown in supplies and stayed a number of days.  Operation Blessing arrived and has been helping, with planes flying with supplies.  Food and shelter is the most urgent need for these people.  Myra said at one village they fixed bags of food for about 100 families, but it was only a drop in the bucket.

These Nicaraguan people are in dire immediate need of your help.  In many cases this is a life or death situation.  The most basic human needs cannot be met. We need your help with a cash donation of any amount.  Please help us distribute this article to all of your friends and your local church.  Timing is immediate – help is needed today.

Verbo Nicaragua is a part of Verbo Christian Ministries a non-denominational organization committed to encouraging local churches in evangelism, church planting and Christian ministries.  For additional information contact Myrna Brown 800.406.1792  Ext. 707. 

All donations are tax deductible.