The Belize Red Cross, in a recent press release, has announced that it has decided to launch an appeal for neighbouring Central American countries affected by Hurricane Stan.

Hurricane Stan, the 18th named storm of the 2005 hurricane season, though only a category one storm, left devastating floods and landslides in its wake and caused untold suffering in Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras and Haiti.

In Guatemala alone, 652 people have been confirmed dead, and the death toll is expected to rise as entire communities were engulfed by landslides and have now been declared mass graves. Three million people in Guatemala have been affected, nearly half the population. An estimated 90 villages still remain cut off.

In Mexico, nearly a million and a half people have been affected, 300,000 are in shelters. One thousand schools and 20 hospitals have been completely destroyed and 364 roads and 121 bridges severely damaged. 

In El Salvador, 72,000 people have been displaced by the Llamatepec volcano activity.

"As the days go by the misery increases and the awful realization of what they have just experienced sinks in. We must help our neighbors in their distress," the press release said.

Cash donations to the "Belize Red Cross Latin American Disaster Appeal Fund" can be made throughout the country, at any of the commercial banks.  Funds will be sent to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the purpose of assisting and meeting those most in distress.

The account numbers are as follows:

First Caribbean International Bank – A/C # 10028703
Scotia Bank – A/C # 9133246
Atlantic Bank Ltd. – A/C # 210674607
Belize Bank Ltd. – A/C # 5064373
Alliance Bank of Belize Ltd. – A/C # 1919

"We know that many of you have given recently to the Hurricane Katrina Appeal, nevertheless we call upon you to giving generously again. We so narrowly missed the floods ourselves," ended the press release. The Appeal will remain open for one month.