In El Salvador, Adventist Young People and ADRA Assist Dozens of Families Affected by Recent Landslides

November 16, 2020 | San Salvador, El Salvador | Fabricio Rivera and Inter-American Division News

As soon as torrential rains hit the northwestern part of El Salvador, causing landslides that destroyed everything in their path in Nejapa on Oct. 30, Adventist young people from the local pathfinder clubs quickly mobilized to collect food and goods to assist affected families.

Local authorities reported that nine people died, dozens more went missing, 30 homes were buried, and more than 130 homes were damaged, leaving dozens of people displaced.

“The flow of debris grew because of all the material that was being dragged downward,” stated Fernando López of the Ministry of Environment. “The debris was going at such speed that it generated a jam and that caused the overflow toward the rest of the natural drainage system.”

Hours after the landslides, hundreds of young people, mostly from pathfinder clubs throughout the area, began assembling bags of food, clothes, and helped prepare meals to take to the dozens of families. Other young people in the metropolitan and central parts of the country began gathering food to go toward the rescue teams who started to remove the debris in the most affected areas in Nejapa, church leaders said.

As soon as the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in El Salvador was able to respond the following day, relief efforts began and dozens of Adventist young people joined to provide additional assistance to dozens of displaced families in Nejapa.

Juan Pablo Ventura, ADRA El Salvador country director, said that 105 packages of brand new clothes for women, men and children, and blankets were distributed. In addition, 400 breakfast meals and bottled waters were distributed among the volunteers of the National Red Cross, additional rescue teams, workers, volunteers as well as staff who oversaw families staying in shelters.  More than 400 fruit rations were distributed to workers, volunteers, children, police officers, and military personnel at the debris removing sites. 40 pallets of water were distributed in shelters in Nejapa, according to Ventura.

“ADRA was also able to distribute 300 masks in shelters for volunteers and workers to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 during relief efforts,” Ventura said.

It was good to see the young people once again in action, said Pastor Luis Aguillón, youth ministries director for the church in El Salvador. “In our country, young people are well organized not only to spread the gospel but also to serve in the community to assist any type of emergency with the special indications from the ADRA director and administrative authorities of the Adventist Church here,” said Aguillón. “They are well recognized as volunteers in service of God and humanity in El Salvador.”

To learn more about the church in El Salvador, visit unionsalvadorenaadventista