El Salvador, one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the region, has no less than 14 volcanoes. But besides the sort of major tragedies that make headlines around the world, Central America suffers hundreds of smaller landslides, floods and storms that kill or leave homeless thousands of people every year. As on most Saturdays in Armenia, a town 46 km west of San Salvador, the main square was filled with people walking on its paths lined with stunted trees and push carts of vendors selling tamales, candies and small bags of soda pop. At one end, a Protestant preacher used a loudspeaker to warn everyone within earshot about the trials of Job. What was different from any other weekend morning was a throng of women standing at the doors of the local government building, where municipal workers were handing out packets of food to people affected by the earthquake.
Social audits are the most effective.
The IDB responds. Coordinating a global response. Help from expatriates. Hope made of wood, plastic and tin IDB staff were intensely involved in the earthquake response effort. Read about their experience in Chasqui , the Bank's internal newsletter.