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Panamanian First Lady Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos receiving the donation from U.S. Ambassador Linda E. Watt. Also present, SINAPROC Director Roberto Velasquez.
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The United States Government provided $50,000 in relief assistance for Panamanians affected by recent severe flooding in the Province of Panama. The funds were used to purchase supplies for those families that lost homes in the floods and for those persons displaced because of damage to their properties.
Following the September 18 disaster declaration of Panamanian President Martin Torrijos, U.S Ambassador to Panama Linda Watt made a similar declaration for the United States Government, which allows her to draw on a special relief fund of the Agency for International Development (USAID). After weekend consultation with representatives of USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, who flew in from their regional office in Costa Rica, Amb. Watt decided to provide the assistance in coordination with local disaster assistance officials from SINAPROC.
Since SINAPROC’s inception, the United States Government has provided training and material support to prepare the organization to respond to emergencies and natural disasters. U.S. relief efforts will be carefully coordinated with SINAPROC and other Panamanian authorities to ensure funds are spent most effectively in ways that are most needed by those Panamanian citizens who have most suffered from the floods.
Heavy rains beginning September 16 and continuing September 17, 2004, caused serious flooding in more than twenty neighborhoods of Panama City, principally in the areas of Tocumen, Pacora and Juan Diaz. At least 12,000 people have been affected by the disaster and more than 2,100 homes have been reported damaged.
Local private support has been overwhelming, with collection points springing up around the country to channel private donations for flood victims. Organized by the office of First Lady Vivian Torrijos, the donation drive has attracted an outpouring of generosity for Panamanian citizens from all walks of life.
Amb. Linda Watt visited volunteers in the Parque Omar collection point on September 18 and observed the solidarity of hundreds of volunteers. “I am deeply moved and impressed by this spontaneous demonstration of mutual support,” she said. “My government will provide assistance, but really it is the citizens of Panama who should be congratulated on the way they have pulled together to help each other through these difficult circumstances.”
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