Ecobreves – HONDURAS: A Law to Fight Natural Disasters

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TEGUCIGALPA, Jul 20 2009 (IPS) - The Honduran parliament last week passed its first law to prevent and mitigate risks related to natural disasters and to establish greater institutional coordination for confronting such events. “After six years we finally were able to give the country legislation that contains a preventive focus, with rehabilitation and coordination in dealing with natural disasters,” Doris Gutiérrez, lawmaker from the leftist Democratic Unification party and head of the congressional contingencies committee, told Tierramérica.

The law was a requirement to receive international cooperation for managing the country's resources and prevent waste when natural catastrophes – like hurricanes, floods or earthquakes – hit this Central American nation, she said.

Honduras identified 28 vulnerable zones in eight of its 18 departments, areas that are at greater risk of landslides, floods or earthquakes.