Salvadoran Envoy Appeals for Help
By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter
At the SIWA bazaar, an annual charity event organized by women's groups in Korea, there was a special donation box.
A rectangle box at the booth for El Salvadoran urged shoppers to help the victims of Hurricane Ida and their families.
The hurricane flooded the country on Nov. 9, causing President Mauricio Funes Cartagena to declare a state of emergency.
A poster was hung on the wall, displaying photos of the flooding, mudslides, floating house roofs and disoriented people.
As of last week, the hurricane had killed 192, with 80 people missing and 14,295 homeless.
One hundred and thirty-two shelters have been erected after nearly 2,000 houses were destroyed. Total damages are estimated to be approximately $1 billion.
Ambassador of El Salvador Zoila Aguirre de May said, "we really need your help."
She recognized the governments of Taiwan and the United States for sending ships full of clothes and medicine.
The embassy prefers cash donations from Koreans, the envoy said, since the embassy would have to figure out ways to ship the donated items to the Latin American nation.
Addressing concerns over money going missing, she said, the government has set up a committee to oversee the distribution of the money.
Details for those who wish to donate are:
Bank: Korea Exchange Bank
Account Name: Embajada de El Salvador
Account Number: 630-006953-904
Swift Code: KOEXKRSE
Forty-eight countries were represented at the bazaar, the organizer said, and the proceeds of sales were approximately 110 million won. The money will be donated to charity organizations throughout Korea.
