3. - usaid

y ash fall is already turning green. Chemical analysis ofthe ash fall
in Nicamgua proved the ash to be non-toxic and, indeed, an Improvement of
the soil by the deposit of several minerals contained in the ash.
ACTICBJ TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF COSTA RICA
The entire country participated in one wqy or another in the relief program.
Ihe outpouring of volunteers from all over Costa Rica nearlly swamped relief
qpncies.
Pkjor coordination was rapidly established by the GOCR Office of Civil
Defense, an element of the Department of Transportation. 'Ibis organization
had been established at the time of the eruption of Mt. Irazu (1965). This
small, but trained, relief staff performed well its duties of coordination
of requests for help, providing information about the erupt;icn, etc.
Because of a lack of comnunications and absence of trained observers in the
area, there was initial con.f'usion. Ibhg the first hours,, local and civil
and church authorities housed the first groups of homeless people in schools
and other buildings and fed them hum local resources. ~it;hin 48 hours,
however, the Office of Civil Defense, Government Ministries and the police
sent reserve and relief workers into the area. "In a remarkably short
time," reported the U. S. Ehbassy, "the orderly evacuation of threatened
areas was accomplished, security ccmtrol and comunications were set up,
and the care and feeding of the people was organized satisf'actorily." A
critical factor in establishing control and coordination was the reiteration
by the President of Costa Rica that OCD was the primary cocndlnating body.
The local effort in rehabilitation and resettlement has beem extensive,
360 of the damaged houses have been repaired and another 16 replacements
built. Legislation has been passed and plans and financing; completed for
apefxLng up a new area, constructing new houses and other facilities, for
permanent resettlement beyond the Arena1 River of those farmer residents
of the devastated area. The m a destroyed by the volcano has been declared
a national park and the former inhabitants have, by law, been relieved of
all indebtedness, both public and private.
In evaluating the disaster relief offered from outside Costla Mca, the
Embassy noted the problems of uncoordinated international clonations. bcal
stocks of basic food, medicine and clothing were sufficient* to care for the
people throughout the emergency period, yet these were the very commodities
given at once by a sympathetic world. -king toward the future, the Office
of Civil Defense of Costa FUca is developing detailed disaslter plans and
an improved training program.
ACTION TAKEN BY THE U.
S. GOVEHNMENT
The Mission Msaster Relief Coordinator established an operations center on
a 24 hour a day basis and throughout the emergency contacts with the
Government of Costa Rica, assigments of personnel, and all ccmunications
were originated or cleared through this operations center. Two helicopters
were requested by the Government of Costa Rica during the night of July 29