Children help flood victims in Panama and Costa Rica

The children of several SOS Children's Villages in Panama and Costa Rica have started collecting provisions for families affected by flooding.

Floods following heavy rain in the provinces of Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Colon and Veraguas have caused severe damage and the loss of human lives in Panama as well as across the border in Costa Rica. Countless homes have been severely damaged and some completely destroyed. Landslides have blocked many roads, making it nearly impossible for relief teams to reach the province of Bocas. Over the next 15 days, Bocas will therefore receive food and medical supplies via a maritime bridge from Costa Rica.

Though fortunately none of them have suffered any damage, some SOS Children's Villages are situated in the immediate vicinity of the affected areas, such as the SOS Children's Village David in Chiriquí, some 50 kilometres from the affected areas.

Children and young people as well as staff have sympathized with many families staying in the nearest shelter and are currrently providing them with clothes (donated by the children themselves), dried food, disposable nappies, cereals, toys, shoes, and baby food.

At the SOS Children's Village Colón, staff and families were collecting cans of powdered milk for the victims as well as bags of used clothing for children and adults. Other than a few leaks that are currently being repaired, the SOS Children's Village Colón has not suffered any damage.