STS095-723-45 Click the photo number to access all resolutions available and the database record.
The town of Wampusirpi (which is located up the river above the floodplain) is an aid center, although because of its small size, it cannot be easily distinguished in this photo. Several aid organizations including GTZ (the German forestry management group) and the Montreal-based Mosquitia Campaign (a group of scientists who conduct research in the area) have been working to get aid supplies in to the people. Calculations from MOPAWI and The FITH, the aid organizations on the ground in the area, suggest a need for 400 tons of food a month for 4-6 months. As of November 20, multiple aid shipments had made it in to Wampusirpi, but the airstrip can only accommodate small shipments, so this is a small fraction of aid needed. Also, because of the shortage of fuel, it is difficult to get the food from the airstrips to the outlying communities (by motor boat).
An on-line reference for the above information which includes a map of the region and weekly updates on aid deliveries is at: http://www.members.tripod.com/D_Parent/mitch-relief.html.
