Archive for the ‘Costa Rica’ Category
Report on the Costa Rica earthquake
The 6.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Costa Rica Jan. 8 was widely reported to have caused widespread destruction, but in fact was a localized disaster that has been blown out of proportion by the media. While prayer for the survivors is needed, relief supplies and volunteers are not.
That word comes from David Brown, BGR’s area director for the Americas.
“The 6.2 earthquake caused serious damage to various structures in the tourism parks in the area, which is about 30 miles north of San Jose,” Brown writes from Costa Rica. “No one should minimize the trauma to families that have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods, but the disaster did not affect large numbers of people.”
The quake triggered landslides that trapped nearly 1,000 tourists; the 31 people listed as dead or missing are Costa Ricans, Brown reported. The biggest problem now is the need to replace about 3 kilometers of road that was destroyed in the quake.
“While we have been flooded with stateside inquiries concerning the need for volunteer assistance, relief supplies and volunteers are not needed,” Brown added. “The immediate emergency has been well managed by the Costa Rican Red Cross and the national civil defense agency. Food and other supplies have poured into San Jose from various agencies and nations. Warehouses are overflowing, and the government is beginning to sell some of the food items to avoid spoilage.
“Homes were destroyed, but that number is pretty low. I would guess from all communities about 500 homes were affected, ranging from minor damage to complete destruction,” Brown said. “I met with Steve Duvall, a field partner from Costa Rica, to discuss possible interventions, but they see no evidence of the value of providing assistance. As of Jan. 20, only 250 people remain in one governmental shelter. We will continue to monitor the situation.”
In the meantime, Brown encourages Christians to pray.
“Ask God to comfort those who have lost loved ones and possessions in this tragedy. Pray that he would give Costa Rican believers opportunities to demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ to their neighbors,” he said. “Pray that God would work through these circumstances to help people understand his love for them and to bring honor and glory to his name.”
