Update #5
Thank you for your prayers and solidarity.
We had not woken up from the earthquake of February 13th yet when suddenly, a tremor of 6.6 on the Richter scale hit us on Saturday 17th at 2:24 in the afternoon. A telluric movement with different characteristics and with epicenter on the south of the capital city of San Salvador. Damages have not been estimated yet because there are confusion and panic on the population. We have not finished the count of deceased after the earthquake of February 13th that, according to official data, are of 283 plus 76 disappeared or buried, more than 3,000 injured. Besides, 32,200 destroyed houses, 125,000 homeless… These figures may increase as hours pass; tremors continue and people is not calmed. In percentual terms, it is said that one of each four Salvadorans are homeless.
What encourages and strengthens our faith is that we have received a lot of messages of solidarity and we know thousands of people are praying for us and are raising offerings to send. Through the Episcopal Church, our emergency committee has invested about $60,000 in food and first need items, for about 30,000 people. As you may see, this is very little as for the magnitude of the tragedy but for us, as a Church it means a large contribution because of your generosity. As soon as we are fallen to calm, we will prepare detailed reports on what we have been able to attend. Resources are rundown and therefore we request you make larger efforts; we are sure with your faith and love, we'll make it!
As you already know, contributions can be sent to our Citibank account: Missionry Diocese of El Salvador - Account #10756637 - 153 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10043. You can also send donations to the ERD and to CRISTOSAL.
God bless you again and let's keep in touch.
In Christ,
The Rt Revd Martín Barahona
Bishop of El Salvador