Nicaragua: The Devastating Hurricanes Eta and Iota in November 2020

How Nicaragua Rebuilt Lives and Homes Through Solidarity After Hurricanes Eta and Iota

In November 2020, Central America witnessed a natural disaster that left a trail of destruction and devastation. More than 6.5 million people were affected by these unprecedented weather events, whose impacts continue to resonate in the hardest-hit communities. Nicaragua was one of the countries most severely affected by Hurricanes Eta and Iota, which struck the region with devastating force.

On November 3, 2020, Hurricane Eta, a Category 4 storm, made landfall in the region, violently hitting Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. But the tragedy did not end there. Just two weeks later, Hurricane Iota, a Category 5 storm, followed the same destructive path, further worsening an already precarious situation.

Municipalities in Nicaragua, including Jinotega, Nueva Segovia, and Santa Teresa, faced loss of life, with a tragic toll of nine deaths and hundreds of people whose homes and household sanitation facilities were affected. Communities in the municipality of Santa Teresa mourned the loss of five lives and the destruction of most of their homes—a grim reminder of the fragility of human life in the face of nature's fury.

SOLIDARITY IN ACTION: COURAGEOUS RESPONSES IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY

The presence of organizations such as the Sofonias Nicaragua Association (Sofonic) in the department of Carazo, acting as project designer and implementer; the effective efforts of the Santa Teresa Municipal Government in selecting and relocating families to safe areas; and the swift action of the Swiss organization SOLIDAR as a funding partner were crucial to the response to this tragedy.

Emergency funds were released to address the most urgent needs, providing vital assistance to the communities and families of El Quinal, Aguas Calientes, and La Piñuela through the project “Hurricane Response in the Municipality of Santa Teresa.”

The project involved the construction of 60 shelters for an equal number of affected families. This was a crucial step toward recovery and rebuilding the lives and homes that had been destroyed, while ensuring the safety of these families.

The shelters were built using prefabricated ferrocement slabs, a construction system suitable for rapid responses to natural disasters. In addition, six young people from these communities received training during the construction process in basic masonry skills, drawing on Sofonic's extensive experience in implementing this type of project.

SOFONIC: EXPERIENCE AND COMMITMENT TO RAPID RESPONSE

Sofonic played an essential role in the emergency response. With its experience and qualified personnel, the organization was able to mobilize quickly and effectively to assist affected communities and families by building 60 permanent shelters. Its agile and efficient construction system made a rapid and effective response possible, providing safe shelters for families who needed them most during this critical time.

The hurricanes Eta and Iota of November 2020 left an indelible mark on Nicaragua and the entire region. Despite the devastation, solidarity and resilience emerged as driving forces in the response and recovery. The focus on safe relocation, shelter construction, and collaboration among organizations such as Sofonic and SOLIDAR-Switzerland demonstrated that, even in the most difficult circumstances, organizations can come together to face seemingly insurmountable challenges.

As Nicaragua moves forward with its recovery, these lessons of solidarity and strength remain a beacon of hope in times of adversity.

The Sofonias Nicaragua Association (Sofonic) is a member of the EcoSur Network.