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 On Wednesday, a total of 6,480 pounds of food were delivered among six flights. - Ministry of Security photo - |
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Published on
Friday, July 30, 2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Officers of the Air Surveillance Service, SVA, brought food by helicopters donated by the U.S. government to the people in the indigenous territories that were affected by the heavy rains and massive floods of last week.  In April 2019, the four UH-1rst (or UH-ONE) helicopters were donated to Costa Rica, but the U.S. government was responsible for the maintenance, spare parts purchase, training of pilots and technicians in aeronautical maintenance of SVA. As of this year, the helicopters were completely transferred over to the Ministry of Public Security. According to the ministry, the food packages were taken to the indigenous territories of Guayabal, Butubata, Arcoiris, Sitio Rangalle and San José Cabécar, in Talamanca Canton, Limón Province. On Wednesday, a total of 6,480 pounds of food were delivered among six flights. The food was donated by the National Emergency Commission and delivered by the SVA pilots. A video with some of the flights was released by the ministry and can be seen on the AM Costa Rica Youtube channel. The helicopters have also helped with making vaccines accessible to that region. Medicine, including vaccines against covid-19, have been taken to public clinics in Limón Province by helicopters to shorten delivery time. The helicopters are also being used in patrolling overflights and evaluating storm damages in rivers and mountains of the areas most affected throughout the country.  As of Thursday, there were more than 1,704 displaced people staying among the 28 shelters that were enabled in the cantons of more destroyed areas such as Talamanca, Limón City and Matina in Limón Province; Sarapiquí in Heredia Province; Turrialba, Jiménez in Cartago Province; and in Upala, Guatuso, San Carlos and Los Chiles in Alajuela Province. Authorities set up a unique and official Google form, Humanitarian Aid Offering site, to coordinate donations. Donors must include their contact information and indicate the type of donation, such as: food, clothing, health products, transportation, among others. Once form is submitted, officers authorized by the Commission will be in contact to coordinate the delivery of the donations. Donations of food, medicine kits and clothes will be collected at all 216 Walmart supermarkets across the country. This week, President Carlos Alvarado enacted the Presidential Decree of National Emergency in those 14 cantons. Authorities call on the public to avoid tourist or sports activities in rivers such as swimming, diving, rafting, canyoning, river bugging, kayaking, cliff jumping, fishing, sailing among others in the cantons under Emergency National Decree. -------------------------- What kind of structure should the government build on the rivers banks to protect the communities from flooding?We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com             
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