TO: Latin America and Economic Justice
Advocates
FROM: Martin Shupack, MCC Washington Office
DATE: November 11, 1998
RE: Advocacy for Hurricane Mitch aid
THE ISSUE:
Hurricane Mitch has done unimaginable damage in Central America. Honduras and Nicaragua have been devastated. Guatemala and El Salvador have also sustained damage. Over 10,000 people have died -- swept away in flooding or buried alive in mudslides. Entire communities were washed away.
Reports indicate that in Honduras new homes are needed for an estimated 1.4 million people -- a quarter of the population. About 20 percent of Nicaragua's population needs housing --around one million people. The majority of Honduran crops have been destroyed, as has most of the country's physical infrastructure. In Nicaragua, too, many roads and bridges have been severely damaged or destroyed.
Churches and relief agencies are responding. MCC has initiated a $300,000 appeal for assistance to Hurricane Mitch victims, to be channeled through local MCC partner organizations such as the Mennonite Social Action Commission and the MAMA project in Honduras, and the Anabaptist Emergency Committee and CEPAD (the relief and development agency of the association of Protestant churches in Nicaraguan) in Nicaragua.
To date, the U.S. government has responded by committing $80 million in aid. The World Bank has pledged $200 million. As helpful as these sums are, they are not nearly enough. Hurricane Mitch has cause billions of dollars in damage.
FAITH-BASIS FOR ACTION
According to the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, Christians are called by God to witness to the nations by "being that city on a hill' which demonstrates the way of Christ." Responding to Hurricane Mitch victims from our personal resources serves to witness in this way. The Confession goes on to say, "We also witness by being ambassadors for Christ, calling the nations (and all persons and institutions) to move toward justice, peace and compassion for all people." Providing an adequate amount of aid during this terrible crisis is one way that the United States can show compassion for our impoverished and hurricane-devastated neighbors in Central America.
The role of government in aiding impoverished and vulnerable members of the human community is highlighted in the MCC-US Statement Regarding Care for the Poor, adopted in 1995 by MCC-US, as well as by the General Conference Mennonite Church. This statement insists that "the church does not have the sole responsibility to care for the poor." Governments also have a vital role. "We believe that God has created governments to provide order and justice(Rom. 13:1-7). Order and justice have economic dimensions." It goes on to say, "We respectfully call upon our government to . . . providedirect assistance to the most vulnerable members of society."
While this statement focuses on government's responsibility to ensure economic justice for its own citizens, it's biblical understanding of the role of government can be applied to international aid as well.
ADVOCACY ACTIONS
Write your member of Congress raising the following concerns:
1) While the $80 million commitment is significant, much more needs to be done. The U.S.government should raise its commitment, especially as comprehensive assessments of the damage become available. In addition the United States should take the lead in working with other governments and international financial institutions like that World Bank to reach agreements about the types and amounts of aid needed to generate recovery in the shortest possible time.
2. The foreign debts of Honduras and Nicaragua should be cancelled. The U.S. should not only cancel the debt it is owed, but should call on the World Bank and IMF to cancel debts owed to them.
3. Aid should be monitored to ensure that it reaches those most in need. In Nicaragua, there have already been reports of discrimination in the provision of assistance. Wherever practical and appropriate, aid should be channelled through nongovernmental agencies (NGOs). The Nicaraguan government has been engaging in discriminatory treatment of certain non-governmental relief channels. Prior to this emergency it has at times held up material assistance going through organizations such as MCC partner CEPAD and tried to subject it to taxation. The United States should urge the Nicaraguan government to cease this discrimination -- not only during this emergency, but in general.
Ask your Representative and Senators both to support increased aid and debt cancellation. Ask them also to contact President Clinton and let him know they are ready to appropriate additional funds for assistance.
The Honorable __________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable _________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Capitol Switchboard
(202) 224-3121 (call and ask for your member's office)
Advocacy is needed immediately. And because the people of
Honduras and Nicaragua will experience the devastating impact of
Hurricane Mitch for years ahead, efforts to encourage U.S.ongoing
assitance will also be important.
******
Martin Shupack
Mennonite Central Committee
Washington, DC Office
110 Maryland Ave., NE Suite 502
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 544-6564
mccwint@erols.com