SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, JAN. 22, 2001 (Zenit.org)
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The Archdiocese of San Salvador is turning to Internet to help victims of the recent earthquake.
The Spanish-language Web page [ http://www.arzsansalvador.org ] reports on the devastation caused by the Jan. 13 quake, gives reports on the services rendered to the affected, and offers the possibility of contacting the archdiocese to help the victims.
The Web page reported, «According to official reports, up to January 19 there were: 681 dead …, 3,440 wounded, about 1,000 disappeared, 54,107 evacuated from high-risk areas, 84,682 damaged homes, and 38,628 destroyed homes, 102 landslides affecting roads and rural zones, 258 parish churches damaged, 195 public buildings damaged, 8 hospitals semi-destroyed, and 43 piers and ports damaged.»
The government estimated losses at $1 billion, but that figure will likely increase, according to Finance Minister José Luis Trigueros.
In a message sent through the Web page, Archbishop Fernando Saenz Lacalle of San Salvador says: «The events we are living through are a precious opportunity for us to live our conversion in a genuine expression of charity through fraternal solidarity. ´Truly I say to you, whatever you did to one of these, the least of my brethren, you did to me.´»
The archdiocese can also be contacted at terremoto@arzsansalvador.org.
