Storm Relief for Indigenous Peoples

A large tropical storm reaching from Honduras to Colombia stalled in the Caribbean off Panama in mid-November and created usually high storm surges on Panama's northern coasts, along with heavy rainfall and high winds. On November 22nd, Panama's President declared western Panama to be in a State of Emergency. While the town of Bocas on Isla Colon sustained minimal storm damage and had plenty of food supplies, the mainland towns and Indigenous communities were not so lucky.

The larger mainland towns depend on shipments of food and other supplies supplied by the coastal highway. During the early days of the storm the highway was shut down by 92 mudslides. Near the border with Costa Rica the flood waters raised the rivers by nine feet in some areas. Tens of thousands evacuated their homes and many still live in the baseball stadium. These towns lost power and then water. Fuel ran out and they were cut-off from outside assistance except by sea or air. The large numbers of people in these towns magnified the speed at which their resources were exhausted. Supplies are now being again delivered by road, but at a reduced rate.

The Ngobe Indigenous peoples are spread across several islands and remote mainland mountain areas in communities numbering from hundreds to thousands of people. Many are hours by foot or boat from a main town and supplies of food. Most are hunter-gather/farmers or fishermen, who augment their diets with rice, beans, flour, and other goods bought through cutting and selling native lumber or seafood. They generally have no large reserves of food in their villages or extra clothing personally. The Ngobe live on a day-to-day basis, typically consuming much or their food in a "feast or famine" mode. There is no electrical power except for generators (which few have) so there is no way to store certain types of food. Many still live in thatch roofed huts and often have poor drinking water conditions. They have no way to dry wet clothing until the rains stop and under these conditions dysentery will be wide spread with the children and elderly suffering the most.

Some remote mountain communities are being delivered supplies by U.S. military helicopters, but others are not. I received this letter (see below) from the Cacique (leader) of Salt Creek Ngobe community on Isla Bastimentos, asking for help for these families. The family numbers are mostly children in each household. Their father's occupations are listed as either fisherman or farmer. During the storms, they were unable to do much of either. They are in need of some assistance with food, clothing, blankets, and medicine to get through this time and to get back on their feet. We are asking for donations to buy these items. There is a storm relief program already under way at the University of West Florida. The contact person there is Charity Vander Wall at cjv2@students.uwf.edu

Thank you for anything you can do.

Sincerely,

Don King

Who are the Ngobe-Bugle? http://www.southernexplorations.com/panamaArticleIndigenousPeopleNgobeBugle.htm