Costa Rica Earthquake

The damage 

The tears in Salenia’s eyes need no translator. Her story mirror’s that of hundred’s of other families, who are now living in shelters in the quake-affected area outside of San Jose, Costa Rica. The 6.1 earthquake struck on January 8, 2009, and aftershocks have continued in the area. Salenia’s home was affected by an aftershock opening up a new fault line. The back of her home cracked and started sliding down the hillside. The cracks in the hillside are visible. She serves as the women’s ministry director for a local christian church. Her parents and her three sons now live in a concrete shelter with 52 other people from the community. She has not only had her home condemned, but also her land, due to the land slide danger. She has no idea what her future holds.

The damage to most homes was not catastrophic. In fact, it is hard to tell which ones are habitable and which ones aren’t. Some are totally in tact, but the land they are built on slid down the mountain side, rendering them unsafe. The rainy season coming later in the year is expected to bring renewed tragedy as these weakened hillsides give way to very dangerous landslides, carrying these homes down with them.

There is great uncertainty as well as to how, and even if, there will be any government help. People throughout the region are fearful. Several pastor’s from local churches have left the area, and their flocks. Other’s are trying their best to manage, but are themselves in need of support.

The response

EFCA TouchGlobal is in the process of developing a response in conjunction with the EFC of Costa Rica. The focus of the plan will be to work through local church pastors in the affected region, caring for them, their families and their flocks, and then reaching out through those churches to their hurting neighbors. There are significant short-term needs including food for the shelters, school supplies for kids (school starts in a few weeks), and temporary housing, among other needs. Long-term needs will include rebuilding homes. Pray that through helping to meet these needs, people will know Jesus.

What you can do

Pray for:

  • Salenia and her family as they struggle  
  • Local area pastors to know how to respond
  • The Body of Christ to respond in love

Give

Consider giving to the following needs:

  • School supplies and uniforms for kids in affected areas
  • Food for people at shelters
  • Temporary housing
  • Supporting pastors and Christian workers affected by the quake
  • Other long term crisis response ministry needs.

You can give now to these needs online, or learn how to give in other ways.    

Connect

Stay in touch with this and other responses by:

Questions? Contact crisisresponse@efca.org.

Return to the EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response page. Learn about other urgent needs Crisis Response is involved in.