Médecins Sans Frontières

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF37419

Date taken / Date Recorded 01/05/1998 12:00 AM

Country Honduras

Commissioning section MSF-NETHERLANDS

Photographer / videographer / producer Larry Towell

Copyright Larry Towell/Magnum Photos

Usage Rights (MSF) MSF Publications

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★★★★ (B)

Maximum Size 3147px × 2122px 856.88 KB

Additional Information / Shotlist Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) continues to assist victims of Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. MSF's overall objective in Central America is to prevent epidemics, provide medical care to the injured and emergency shelter to the homeless, rehabilitate damaged clinics, hospitals, water and sanitation structures, and prevent malnutrition among the victims of Hurricane Mitch.

MSF is striving to prevent:

Spread of epidemics due to destruction of health structures and limited access to medical care,
Outbreaks of water-borne diseases-mainly cholera, diarrhea, and skin infections, due to lack of drinkable water, contamination of wells, and carcasses floating in water supply,
Respiratory and skin infections due to poor hygiene conditions, lack of proper shelter, and overcrowded emergency shelters, and
Malnutrition, particularly in children, due to lack of adequate food supply.
In Nicaragua, MSF is distributing drugs, medical supplies, and clean drinking water. In addition, we are providing emergency shelter materials, including plastic sheeting, as well as water chlorination and pumping equipment to displaced people. Three tons of MSF's emergency medical supplies - one of the first relief cargoes to reach the country following the hurricane - arrived in Managua on Saturday morning and were distributed. Relief efforts are being concentrated on the hard-hit coastal region of Chinandega on the Atlantic Coast, as well as Esteli, Nueva Segovia, Jinotega, and the capital city of Managua. Additional relief supplies and personnel are en route to the disaster