More than a dozen hurricanes have walloped Central America this fall. Flooding and mudslides have destroyed homes, schools, farmlands, and roads. An estimated 400,000 people are homeless and 740 are confirmed dead. With thousands still missing, the official death toll is expected to rise.

The people of Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, and Nicaragua are bracing themselves for several more weeks of hurricane season to come.

World Vision is There
World Vision is distributing food, medicine, clothing, blankets, tents, and hygiene items to flood-affected communities. Children are the primary beneficiaries. Damaged roads have made it difficult to access some areas, but staff members are working to reach people in need.

Guatemala
With 664 reported deaths, more than 1,000 people missing, and 108,000 homeless, Guatemala has been worst hit by the hurricanes. Hundreds of communities have been washed out by flooding or buried under mudslides.

Staff members in Canada partnered with Air Canada to airlift 1,000 tents and 11,000 pounds of baby food and disposable diapers to Guatemala. These items, along with dehydrated food and foam mattresses, will be sent to three of the worst affected communities.

World Vision Guatemala was also the first aid agency to reach several isolated Mayan villages with boatloads of relief goods.

El Salvador
To date, 69 people have been reported dead and nearly 36,000 are homeless. About 70 per cent of roads are damaged and crops, wells, and latrines have been destroyed.

The World Vision office in El Salvador has provided $2 million worth of relief items - more than any other non-governmental agency in the country. Relief workers distributed enough corn, beans, flour, and cooking oil to feed 4,000 families for 10 days.

Staff has also provided psycho-social support to displaced children and families living in temporary shelters.

Mexico
In Mexico, roughly one million people have been affected by flooding; 22,000 have lost their homes and road access to communities is limited.

World Vision staff in Mexico has provided displaced people with food, clothing, blankets, and medicines.

Staff members are monitoring Hurricane Wilma, which may cause flooding and landslides in the State of Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula.

Nicaragua
Hurricane Stan caused the banks of the Malacatoya River to overflow, flooding the nearby community of Tepalon. "The water is at knee-level. I fear for my family. I have a six-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy," says resident Antonio Muñoz.

Nearly 300 people have been evacuated from Tepalon, including 172 children sponsored through World Vision. They are living in shelters, supported by World Vision.

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Updated November 3, 2005, 8:30 a.m., EST