FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 11/98 - NICARAGUA (23 November)
Disaster caused by Hurricane “Mitch” was of enormous proportion. By 15 November, about 2 447 casualties had been confirmed and some 885 persons missing. The affected population is estimated at some 868 000 persons which accounts for some 20 percent of the country’s population. Of these, about 36 368 have totally lost their homes or have had severe damage to their properties. The impact of the hurricane was particularly felt in the north-central and north- western parts of the country. A huge landslide caused by the torrential rains in the north-west, near the country’s border with Honduras, swept away a group of small villages. Many populated and cropped areas on the Atlantic coast were water-logged as a consequence of the high tides and flooded rivers. Damage to infrastructure is immense. It is reported that about 2 500 km of highways and roads and 174 bridges have been damaged or destroyed, cutting off towns and villages from the capital and the rest of the country. Significant losses have been incurred to the agricultural, livestock and fishery sectors. Planting of the 1998 second season cereal and bean crops was underway when the hurricane struck. The rainfed paddy crop was seriously affected, as sell as maize and the important bean crop, which constitutes the main sources of protein for the rural population. Losses inflicted to the bean crop represent about 6 months of domestic consumption. Significant damage has been also incurred to other food and cash crops. Preliminary indications are that about 20 percent of the important foreign exchange earner coffee crop has been lost, but losses could be much larger because of blocked access to coffee farms. About 400 000 people will be receiving food aid for six months. An FAO project for the immediate rehabilitation of agricultural activities in the Department of Matagalpa, one of the most affected areas by the hurricane, benefiting some 5 120 small farmers, is about to be implemented. Massive assistance is being provided by the international community.
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