Central America after Hurricane Mitch: Will the Donors Deliver?

Hurricane Mitch has set progress in the region back by at least a decade, with damage
estimated at over $4 billion. The affected countries will not be able to rebuild without a
massive infusion of international aid. Just as important as levels of aid is the goal of the
reconstruction effort. Participants at this week’s meeting are confronted with two choices:
restore the status quo of widespread poverty, social inequality, and environmental
degradation, or create a new model of development that is socially and environmentally
sustainable. Oxfam calls upon donors to meet the challenge by pledging long-term support,
through debt cancellation and aid.