Disasters, Conflicts and Migration
Natural Disasters |
Occurs |
Comments / Details |
---|---|---|
Drought |
Yes | 6 drought events from 1900-2016 affecting a total of 1,100,000 and causing US$320,400 in damage |
Earthquakes |
Yes | 9 earthquake events from 1900-2016 affecting a total of 2,549,991 and causing US$3,406,500 in damage |
Epidemics |
Yes |
Arbovirus (5 events from 1900 - 2016 the number affected: 13,595) Bacterial disease (2 events from 1900 - 2016 number affected: 5,975) Respiratory (1 event from 1900 - 2016 the number affected: 50,000) Viral Infectious Diseases (Zika) (7 events from 1900 - 2016 the number affected: 30,976) |
Extreme Temperatures |
Yes | 1 Cold Wave event 1900-2016, killed 1 person |
Flooding |
Yes | Flash flooding and general flooding (16 events from 1900 - 2016 affecting 481,842 and causing US$ 1,563,000 in dammage) |
Insect Infestation |
No | n/a |
Landslides |
Yes | 1 event from 1900-2016, killed 22 people |
Volcanic Eruptions |
Yes | 2 ash fall events from 1900-2016 affecting a total of 65,079 |
High Waves / Surges |
Yes | 1 Tsunami from 1900-2016, killed 185 people |
Wildfires |
No | n/a |
High Winds |
Yes |
13 Hurricanes (from 1900 - 2016 affecting a total of 266,201 and causing US$ 1,745,410 in damage) 1 Connective Storm (from 1900 - 2016 affecting a total of 20,000) |
Man-made |
|||||
Civil strife |
Peace treaty signed 1992, ending 12 year civil war. |
||||
International conflict |
|
||||
Displaced in country |
1 million people were displaced from certain rural areas to the capital and other safer places during the civil war. However, during 2016 52,560 migrants have returned to El Salvador from other countries (USA, Mexico, etc.) and as from January to July 2017, 16,847 migrants have returned to the country (59.5% from USA, 40.2% from Mexico and 0.3% from other countries.) |
||||
Refugees in country |
People in shelters: in total 559,728. 466,000 during Hurricane Mitch (1998); 68,777 during 13 January 2001 earthquake; and 44,951 in the tropical storms in 2011 (Ida, Agatha, Alex, Matthew, Tropical Depression No. 16 Nicole and E12). |
||||
Refugees from country |
No records available. |
||||
Landmines casualties / year |
Mine clearance was carried out in 1993 and 1994 by former combatants from both sides of the conflict. No accidents involving landmines have been reported since 1994, although some accidents from UXO have occurred - from January 1994 through mid-1995, 271 people, including 42 children, were injured by UXO. |
||||
Other comments |
|
* Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters, Belgium.
El Salvador is extremely prone to natural disasters. It ranks among the ten most vulnerable countries to natural hazards in the world (CRED/OFDA), and is rated first by the World Bank in terms of overall vulnerability based on Economic Risk to GDP from two or more natural hazards (WB, 2005). Nearly 90 percent of total country area is at risk of disaster, representing over 95 percent of the population and 96 percent of GDP. In the past 11 years, the country suffered three major disasters which impacted thousands and severely hampered economic progress. Two major earthquakes in 2001 affected 1.5 million people with economic losses of US$ 1.6 billion. In 2005, the country was simultaneously affected by the eruption of the Ilamatepec Volcano and tropical storm Stan; the total impact of the two phenomena was US$355.6 million (with US$196.2 million in damages and US$159.5 million in losses). In 2011, Tropical Depression 12E hit El Salvador, affecting more than 0.5 million people and causing US$840 million in damages and losses.
Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities
Seasonal Effects on Transport |
||
Transport |
Time |
Comments |
Primary road transport |
Wet season from May to November |
Transport is affected during the rainy seasons as rivers flood and some primary and secondary roads suffer severe deterioration, leaving some communities cut off. |
Secondary road transport |
Wet season from May to November |
Transport is affected during the rainy season as rivers flood and secondary roads suffer severe deterioration, leaving some communities cut off. |
Rail transport |
|
This type of transportation does not exist in the country. |
Air transport |
Wet season from May to November |
Air transport could be affected during the rainy seasons due to the lack of visibility. |
Waterways transport |
Wet season from May to November |
Waterways transport could be affected during the rainy due to the lack of visibility. |
Seasonal affects on storage and handling |
||
Activity |
Time |
Comments |
Storage |
From April to November |
The accessibility to the storage facilities could be hampered due to floods or landslides. Therefore, cargo has to be properly protected from the departure point onwards. |
Handling |
From April to May |
Sea currents occasionally affect the port operations at Acajutla, ships need to abandon their berths to avoid collisions. The rainy season also affects break bulk/bulk cargo discharge at Acajutla. During the rainy season, overland transporters should be reminded that tarpaulins need to be in good state. |
Other |
No potential risk identified |
Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response
Government
The government has since 2009 changed some of the former structures. WFP's main counterpart in Supply Chain is SIS/DAA (Secretaría de Inclusión Social/División de Asistencia Alimentaria – Secretariat for Social Inclusion/Food Assistance Division), responsible for warehouse management and staffing.
The Government of El Salvador’s (GoES) response to the tropical storms (Agatha, Alex, and E12) can be seen as a step forward compared with previous emergencies (i.e. lesson learned from Ida and E12). The Government had available in its warehouses relief items (mattress, clothes, hygiene kits, medical kits, etc.) and food rations to assist the affected populations. The humanitarian community also provided support in terms of food assistance (WFP and others). The capacity of response has to be improved in view of possible major emergencies, especially in the area of coordination with all actors involved in the response. The humanitarian community, in coordination with GoES’ Civil Protection, has initiated the creation of a humanitarian network, which is currently ongoing.
The Coordination Center for Disaster Prevention in Latin America (CEPREDENAC as per Spanish acronym), is a regional inter-governmental entity, working under the Central America Integration System (SICA as per Spanish acronym) as a specialised secretariat. It has been created with the mandate of promoting activities, projects and programmes focused on reduction of risks during natural disasters. The Center promotes and coordinates the international cooperation, information sharing, with the exchange of experiences and technical/scientific evaluations regarding prevention, mitigation and emergency response.
Ministry / Department / Address |
Contact Names / Email |
Tel / Fax |
Website |
Government Agency Dealing With Emergency Relief and/or Disaster Management: Civil Protection Ministerio de Gobernación y Desarrollo Territorial, Centro de Gobierno, San Salvador, El Salvador |
Name: Mr. Jorge Antonio Meléndez Title: Director |
Tel.: (503) 2527-7122 |
|
Principal Interacting Government Official/ Division Of Food Aid Assistance- Social Inclusion Secretariat/ SIS/DAA 17 Avenida Norte, Centro Gobierno Edif.# 1, San Salvador, El Salvador
|
Name: Ms. Wendy Rogel de Fuentes Title: Director Email: wdefuentes@inclusionsocial.gob.sv |
Tel.: (503) 2281-0981 (Direction Office) (503) 2244-2724 Fax: (503)2281-0058 (503) 2264-3152 |
|
Air Handling Services /Aerodespachos de El Salvador /El Salvador International Airport |
Name: Mr. Jaime Jiménez Cromeyer Title: Manager Email:j.jimenez@aerodespachos-sal.com |
Tel.: (503) 2243 2557
|
|
Principal Port Authority - Port Manager Puerto de Acajutla
|
Name: Mr, Roberto de Jesús Mendoza Title: Port Manager Email: roberto.mendoza@cepa.gob.sv |
Tel.: (503) 2429-3201 Tel.: (503) 2429-3384 Fax: (503) 2405-3390 |
|
Air Cargo Operations Ilopango
|
Name: Mr. Jorge Gómez Title: Head of Operations Email: Jorge.gomez@ccepa.gob.sv |
Tel.: (503) 2250-9300 Fax: (503) 2250-9333
|
|
Principal Government International Airport of El Salvador |
Name: Mr. Jaime Parada Title: Airport Manager blanca.velasco@cepa.gob.sv |
Tel.: (503) 2349-2200 Tel. (503) 2349-2201 Fax: (503) 2397-2393
|
www.aeropuertoelsalvador.gob.sv
|
Principal Government Aviation Traffic Authority, International Airport of El Salvador, San Luis Talpa, La Paz |
Name: Rene Lopez Title: Chief AIES Email: Rene.lopez@cepa.gob.sv |
Tel.: (503) 2366-2441 Fax: (503) 2366-2464 |
|
Principal aviation military and/or civil defense authority El Salvador Air Force Aeropuerto Ilopango, Kilometro 9 ½, Ilopango, El Salvador |
Name: Mr. Carlos Jaime Mena Torres Title: Col., Chief of Civil Affairs Department: Air Force Name: Jorge Gómez Title: Chief Airport Operations Email: Jorge.gomez@cepa.gob.sv |
Tel.: (503) 2250-0070 (503) 2508-0226 Fax: (503) 2250-0319
|
|
Humanitarian Community
A Contingency Plan preparing for floods and landslides caused by hurricanes and rainfall was developed between June and November in 2006. This was updated in 2007, 2008 and it is being re-drafted in 2017. This plan has been prepared by the United Nations Emergency Team (UNETE) which is composed by the main UN actors involved in emergency response (WFP, FAO, UNICEF, IOM, WHO, UNDP, UNFPA, OCHA). UNETE members are fully involved in the establishment of the Humanitarian Network for El Salvador together with some NGOs (CARE, OXFAM, Plan International, CRS, Lutheran World Federation, WVI, Save the Children), the National Red Cross and National Civil Protection. WFP in El Salvador developed the Central American Early Warning System (SATCA) to monitor weather hazards. This is a tool that has provided timely and consolidated information on natural events in the region.
The following web resources have been established to support a humanitarian response in terms of preparedness and emergency response:
SATCA website Central America Early Warning System to monitor weather hazards
Redhum - Latin America Humanitarian Information Network
Humanitarian Coordination |
||||||
Type |
Name / Address |
Contacts |
Comments |
|||
 HCRC |
Mr. Andrew Stanhope Address: Edif. Naciones Unidas, Blvd. Orden de Malta Sur, #2-B, Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, El Salvador. |
Tel. (503) 2263-0066 Fax (503) 2209-3588 Email: andrew.stanhope@wfp.org |
UN System Resident Coordinator, OIC Leading agency for: 1) Programming (PMT) and 2) Monitoring & Evaluation (GTME) Alternate leading agency for Communications (GICOM) |
|||
Coordination mechanisms / committees / Groups |
||||||
Org. Name |
Contact / Address |
Contacts |
Comments |
|||
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME – UNDP/PNUD
|
Representative: Ms. Georgiana Braga-Orillard Edif. Naciones Unidas, Blvd. Orden de Malta Sur, #2-B, Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, El Salvador. |
Tel. (503) 2209-3503 Fax (503) 2209-3590 Email: georgina.braga@undp.org
|
Leading agency for: 1) Citizen security and violence prevention, and 2) Operations (OMT) Alternate leading agency for: 1) Democratic governance and state´s modernization, and 2) Environmental sustainability and disaster risk reduction |
|||
UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME – WFP / PMA
|
Representative: Mr. Andrew Stanhope Blv.el Hipódromo No.738 Colonia San Benito San Salvador, El Salvador, Centro América. Apartado Postal No.114 |
Tel. (503) 2263-6144, Fax (503) 2510-7142 Email: Andrew.stanhope@wfp.org |
Leading agency for emergencies (UNETE) Alternate leading agency for: 1) SAN, and 2) Operations (OMT) |
|||
UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION - FAO |
Representative: Mr. Diego Recalde Boulevard del Hipódromo No. 110. Colonia San Benito, Zona Rosa San Salvador |
Tel. (503) 2264 – 2326 ext: 106 Tel 2. (503) 2264 - 4064 Fax: (503) 2264-3887 Email: diego.recalde@fao.org |
Leading agency for environmental sustainability and disaster risk reduction Alternate leading agency for inclusion economic development and employment |
|||
Pan-American Health Organization – PAHO/OPS WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION WHO/OMS |
Representative: Dr. Carlos Roberto Garzón. 73 Av. Sur No.135, Colonia Escalón, San Salvador, El Salvador. |
Tel. (503) 2511-9502 Fax (503) 2298-1168 Email: garzonc@paho.org |
Leading agency for HIV/AIDS and SAN Alternate leading agency for citizen security and violence prevention. |
|||
UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN´S EMERGENCY FUND - UNICEF
|
Representative: Rose Nadine Perrault Blvd. Santa Elena, Calle Alegría, Edificio Interalia, 4to. Piso, Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad. |
Tel. (503) 2252-8800/02 Fax (503) 2252-8811 Email: nperrault@unicef.org |
Leading agency for: 1) Democratic governance and state´s modernization & reform, 2) Communications (GICOM). Alternate leading agency for: 1) Equality, Social inclusion, Poverty Reduction, 2) Programming (PMT), and 3) Monitoring & evaluation (GTME) |
|||
UNITED NATIONS DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND SECURITY - UNDSS |
Security Adviser: Mr. Luis Castro Edif. Naciones Unidas, Blvd. Orden de Malta Sur, #2-B, Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, El Salvador. |
Tel. 503) 2251-9500 or 9560 Fax (503) 2209-3615 Email: luis.castro@undss.org |
|
|||
UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND - UNFPA
|
Representative: Mr. Hugo Gonzalez Edif. AVANTE, 10 nivel, Urb. Madre Selva. Santa Elena. Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad. El Salvador.
|
Tel. (503) 2246-5800 Fax (503) 2246-5823 Email: hgonzalez@unfpa.org |
Leading agency for: 1) Equality, Social inclusion, Poverty Reduction, and 2) Gender |
|||
UNITED NATIONS FOR PROJECT SERVICES -UNOPS |
Directora y Representante: Mrs. Alexandra Kianman Colonia San Benito y Calle N° 1, Casa N° 121, entre Calle La Mascota y Calle Loma Linda, San Salvador |
Tel. (503) 2506-3900 or 3917 Fax: (503) 22 63 44 82 Email: AlexandraK@unops.org |
Mission: aid people in need through UN efforts and associated Government agencies. Vision: promote promote sustainable practices Value: present services to others |
|||
UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION – ILO/OIT |
Principal Technical Adviser: Mr. Jesús de la Peña Avenida José Matías Delgado No 345, Colonia Escalón, San Salvador |
Tel. (503)2263-7442 Fax (503)2263-7008 Email: delapena@ilo.org |
Leading agency for inclusion economic development and employment |
|||
UNAIDS/ONUSIDA |
Director: Dra. Celina Miranda Edif. Naciones Unidas, Blvd. Orden de Malta Sur, #2-B, Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, El Salvador. |
Tel. (503) 2209-3591 Fax. (503) 2209 3588 Email: mirandace@unaids.org |
Alternate leading agency for HIV/AIDS
|
|||
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION – IOM |
Head of Mission: Mr. Jorge Peraza Urb. Madre Selva, Pje. H #5, Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan. La Libertad. |
Tel. (503) 2521-0531 Fax (503) 2521-0534 Email: jperaza@iom.int |
Alternate leading agency for emergencies (UNETE)
|