CENTRAL AMERICAN EMERGENCY AID

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

November 6, 1998

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) agreed to work together to coordinate a relief effort for the Central American countries devastated by last weekend’s Hurricane Mitch.

A meeting of the Inter-American Emergency Aid Fund (FONDEM) Friday, chaired by the organization’s deputy chief, Ambassador Christopher R. Thomas, emerged with the decision.

At the meeting, the ambassadors from Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala An overview of the situation in each affected nation was given by detailed the extent of the damage inflicted, and asked for international aid to undertake the reconstruction efforts and help the people affected.

Assistant Secretary General Thomas chaired the meeting that was also called to provide information on what each OAS member and observer country and donor agency had underway and how best a coordinated effort could be pursued. The United Nations and the International Monetary Fund are among the agencies involved.

Among other things, the OAS has set up a telephone hotline for urgent donations to be pledged and dropped off at its Washington headquarters. That telephone number is (202) 458-3535. The PADF opened a bank account for monetary contributions from individuals and corporations. More information can be obtained on the OAS web page, at (www.oas.org).