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Central America Devastated by Hurricane Eta's Destructive Force

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
   Societies is appealing for $22 million to help 75,000 people worst
   affected by Hurricane Eta which tore through Central America with
   devastating force, ravaging seven countries in its path.

   Hurricane Eta is emerging as a major humanitarian crisis in Central
   America. More than 2.5 million people from Panama to Belize are
   affected. The most severe impacts are being felt in Honduras, Nicaragua
   and Guatemala.

   The International Red Cross Federation says Honduras is hardest hit of
   all with 1.7 million people or 20 percent of its population severely
   affected. IFRC spokesman, Matthew Cochrane, says women, children and
   members of indigenous and African communities who have lost everything
   are among the most vulnerable.

   "These are areas that were already hit very hard by COVID and its
   economic repercussions," said Cochrane. "And, obviously these are areas
   that were homes of pre-existing vulnerabilities. Some of the countries
   affected are home to some of the largest economic inequalities in the
   world as well as high rates of crime and violence."
   WATCH: Hurricane Eta's devastation in Nicaragua

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