VIDA’s response to the devastating earthquakes of January 13 and February 13, 2001 in El Salvador has been enormous and immediate.

On January 24, two 40-ft containers were loaded in VIDA’s warehouse in San Francisco’s East Bay containing beds, matresses, medicines and many medical supplies to assist the people who were injured or lost everything.

They were sent to the Sisters of the Poor of Saint Pedro Claver in Armenia, Sonsonate. On February 21, another container was sent to Fideicomiso Walter A. Soundy in Santa Tecla full of hospital beds and gurneys to distribute them to health institutions in the Department of La Libertad. Finally, a fourth ocean freight container was sent on March 6 to the Sisters in Armenia full of hospital supplies as well as clothes and other items of basic necessity.

In all, 4 containers carrying 52 tons (104,000 lbs) of medical supplies were sent to assist the people of El Salvador in the 8 weeks following the first and larger trembling.