From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Nicaragua: Chamorro Appeals for Int'l Aid
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 01:30:28 GMT

/** reg.nicaragua: 128.0 **/
** Topic: IPS:Chamorro Appeals for Global Ai **
** Written  5:14 pm  Sep  5, 1992 by josefina in cdp:reg.nicaragua **
From: Josefina Velasquez <josefina>
Subject: IPS: Chamorro Appeals for Global Aid

/* Written 12:09 am  Sep  5, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Third World Dvpmnt
Title: NICARAGUA: PRESIDENT APPEALS FOR INTERNATIONAL AID

managua, sep 2 (ips) -- nicaraguan president violetta chamorro
wednesday appealed to the international community to send aid for
the victims of a tidal wave which slammed nicaragua's pacific
coast on tuesday night.

preliminary health ministry reports put the number of deaths
at 78, while as many as 700 people may be missing. many children
are said to be among the victims. damage to property is estimated
at millions of dollars and a state of emergency is now in effect
here.

''in these moments of tragedy we are asking for a crust of
bread, and for people not to put any problems in the way of the
aid,'' chamorro said wednesday following an hours-long cabinet
meeting.

''our country needs friendly countries. it is time for them to
come and see the places along the pacific coast where we had
thought they could come and invest,'' she added.

chamorro told the colombian radio station ''radio caracol''
that nicaragua urgently needed ''blankets, milk, food,
anti-coagulants and medicinal drugs in general.''

the tidal wave was caused by an earthquake measuring 7.2
degrees on the richter scale, which occurred at 01:16 gmt. it was
the strongest in the last 20 years, seismologists from the
nicaraguan institute of territorial studies said.

the epicentre of the tidal wave was located about 150
kilometres west of managua in the pacific ocean and raised waves
some 15 metres high. in some areas the tidal waters penetrated up
to two kilometres inland.

at least 20,000 people living in some 50 communities along a
500-kilometre stretch of coast have been affected, according to
early reports.

up to wednesday morning at least 3,000 persons had been
evacuated from their villages, which were totally destroyed, with
scores of houses, hotels and other buildings reduced to ruins.

special units of the sandinista popular army rushed to the
disaster area, where incidents of looting have already been
registered and where many people were still in danger.

scores of injured persons have been ferried to managua
hospitals and, first reports state that about 50 people are
missing, although colombian radio stations reported from managua
that the number could be as high as 700.

most of the missing are fishermen who had been out at sea.
(more)
----
chamorro compared the tidal wave to one which hit managua in
december 1972, devastating the nicaraguan capital almost totally
and leaving over 10,000 victims behind.

the nicaraguan president said she would take emergency
measures to send aid to the affected communities through an
emergency committee which she heads and which was formed
immediately after the disaster occurred.

meanwhile, colombia's foreign ministry has announced an
operation to assist the central american country and a number of
radio stations in the south american country have launched a
campaign to collect supplies to be sent to nicaragua.

in san jose, costa rica, president rafael angel calderon said
that ''fortunately, the tidal wave caused no damage to this
country, although it was felt.''

he announced that costa rica would also launch a campaign to
assist nicaragua in alleviating the effects of the disaster.
(end/ips/fj/mig-ug/kb/92)
----

** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

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