Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Local Communities Lead Up Mitigation Efforts

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Jan 30 2012 (IPS) - The residents of Costa de los Amates, a region of Honduras near the border with El Salvador, are gearing up for community work aimed at preventing the flooding of the Goascorán River during the winter season. Luz Arely Valdés, governor of the southern Honduran department of Valle, where Costa de los Amates is located, told Tierramérica that the work should be completed "before the rains begin," adding, "We are going to work in coordination with border communities in El Salvador to push forward this initiative together."

Around 16 communities in Costa de los Amates are cut off from the surrounding area when the river floods. Communities on the other side of the border face a similar problem, said Valdés, upon announcing a meeting between authorities from both countries to lay the foundations for the work, which will begin with dredging and cleaning up refuse from areas that obstruct the river from following its normal course.