Rebuilding El Salvador.

• Author: Conaway, Janelle
• Position: Brief Article

CONDOLENCES AND donations have poured into El Salvador in the wake of earthquakes in January and February that caused more than a thousand deaths and massive destruction.

At a meeting in March of donor countries, financial institutions, and other organizations, Secretary General Cesar Gaviria called on the international community to increase support to the Central American country and reiterated the need to improve disaster mitigation efforts.

"El Salvador needs the international community to understand the magnitude of the serious damage that has occurred and increase its solidarity for the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases," he said.

Gaviria stressed the need both for immediate assistance to build adequate housing for families left homeless by the quakes, as well as for long-term aid to rebuild the country's infrastructure. New construction must meet modern standards for withstanding earthquakes and other natural disasters, he added.

The Consultative Group Meeting for the Reconstruction of El Salvador, held in Madrid, was hosted by the Spanish government and organized by...