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Marketplace Fire in Waspam, Nicaragua

February 7, 2007

Dear Friends of MADRE,

Last week there was a terrible fire in Waspam, on the North Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua. Waspam is the home of our partner organization of more than a decade, Wangki Tangni. There has been almost no news of the fire in the US, but I know that many of you have followed and supported MADRE's work in Nicaragua over the years, and we want to make sure that you know about this emergency.

The fire burned for more than 18 hours, destroying the entire marketplace and homes in the center of town, and triggering gas explosions. Without water or an infrastructure in place, many families literally lost everything. Families from more than 100 communities along the Rio Coco depend on the Waspam marketplace to sell their harvest and generate income to feed their families. The communities along the Rio Coco already exist on the margins, without public services or any safety net to deal with such disasters.

There is an urgent need for food, clean water, medical care, and financial resources to replace lost income and rebuild homes and market stalls. We are working to send as much help as we can from our Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund. If you are interested in contributing to this effort, you may contribute online, or if you prefer, you may send a check to MADRE (at 121 W. 27th Street, #301, New York, NY 10001) and designate 'Wangki Tangni' or 'Waspam' in the memo line.

We are also collecting health and medical supplies, such as asthma medication, over-the-counter pain relievers, children's formulas, etc., to send.

Thank you for being with MADRE and our sisters. You really do make a difference.

With deep appreciation,

Vivian Stromberg
Executive Director