"MONSIGNOR OSCAR ARNULFO ROMERO COMMUNITY" IN EL SALVADOR THREATENED WITH DISPLACEMENT AND IN NEED OF EMERGENCY AID.

The community, located outside the capital city San Salvador, chose their name because the life and legacy of Monsignor Romero has been a monumental source of hope and strength for its members. (LINK TO INFO ON ROMERO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Óscar_Romero).

The community, formed by 98 families unjustly displaced from their land, and suffering from the affects of war and natural disaster, live in cardboard houses and have to struggle daily to defend this land and make it livable.

In 2006, political parties changed hands and the newly elected Mayor denied the community access to water and electricity. He called them "usurpers and illegals," despite the fact that they have been recognized by several government and non-governmental entities.

Recently, the home of a single mother and her two young children burned to the ground. The fire was the result of a candle falling over, which would not have happened if the Mayor hadn't blocked access to electricity.Additionally, the community could not put the fire out due to the Mayor's denial of potable water in the community.

Now that the rain has started (May 1 - Nov. 1), people's homes are leaking, and they have asked the Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS) to help them buy tin to reinforce their homes. A sheet of tin is $13 and, at five sheets per home, $65 will protect a family from El Salvador's harsh rains for years to come. The families in the most precarious conditions will be prioritized.

Your donations will help provide relief and a sense of hope to a community that is striving each day for their right to a dignified life, a place to live and a better future for their children. Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. All tax-deductible donations are made in US dollars and sent to Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS). Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!