Project assistance completion report : cooperative agreement no. 519-A-00-99-00016-00 with CARE International El Salvador, under the project no. 519-0447 : MAREAS (Mitch actividades de rehabilitacion de emergencia en agua y saneamiento) [Hurriance Mitch emergency rehabilitation activities for water and sanitation]

The time-line for the MAREAS project was extremely short and required a fast-paced implementation strategy. This accelerated project start-up and implementation schedule may be without precedent in the history of U.S.-funded water and sanitation emergency interventions in El Salvador. The project exceeded its goals, and its health impact has been recognized by doctors and nurses of the health units within the target areas, according to whom the number of cases of skin and water-borne diseases decreased evidently after MAREAS. Specific achievements included: disinfection of 4,626 hand-dug wells and 4,750 latrines; rehabilitation/construction of 550 latrines; improvement of 650 wells (200 with only a sanitary seal and a protecting wall); and rehabilitation of 4 water systems and construction of 5 others. Complementary infrastructure works to ensure sustainability of the provided services included: construction of three vaults in the road to El Flor and El Porvenir communities; filling and compacting of 40 sq m of selected material around the eroded area of the health clinic in Puerto Parada; provision of new wells, protecting walls, sanitary seals, and rope pumps to public schools in Babilonia and Chacastera in Canton San Antonio Potrerios and Nuevo Amanecer in Canton Zamoran, Municipality of Jiquilisco, Usulutan; repair of the existing MARK II handpump at the health clinic in La Canoa and in public wells at Mata de Pina and La Papalota in Canton San Marcos, Municipality of Jiquilisco, Usulutan; construction of 50 meters of wire-reinforced rock walls (gabions) in El Borbollon, Canton El Jocotal, Municipality of El Transito, San Miguel; and installation of a wound steel cable (50 meters) over the Grande de San Miguel River for residents of Canton El Obrajuelo. Additional and complementary water and sanitation activities are being funded under project 5190450 (MAS). Lessons learned are as follows: (1) An accelerated implementation schedule, even though imperative, as in this project, has a negative effect on the community education and development process. (2) Initial planning with Ministry of Public Health representatives permitted smooth and efficient coordination among the different entities and donors helping Hurricane Mitch victims. (3) Awarding emergency projects to responsive entities that already have a presence in the country, and especially in the target areas, allows rapid and successful implementation.