The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has granted a five-million-dollar loan to Honduras to help it more effectively confront natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes. The Honduran Congress approved the loan as part of a soft loan portfolio so that in times of emergency, such as the current rainy season, assistance can be provided to the regions that need it most, Deputy Marvin Ponce, one of the Congress’s seven vice presidents, told Tierramérica.

The loan will be directed towards disaster mitigation, prevention and infrastructure repair efforts, with priority decided in accordance with the particular emergency, Ponce added.

The IDB loan money will go into a reserve fund to be managed by the Standing Committee on Emergencies.