Community update during this pandemic

President Bukele declared that El Salvador would be in quarantine for 30 days. People that have been found on the streets have been detained and taken to forced quarantine. People have questioned this decision because it was not included in the Decree approved by the Legislative Assembly and it’s up to the soldiers themselves to decide whether to take them or not. Although it has been mentioned that people will receive $300 dollars a month and that one person per family will be allowed to shop groceries, there is still no clarity about these measures. Official and reliable information is scarce or sometimes only shared through Twitter.

 

It is important to acknowledge the privilege of being able to stay at home having supplies, wi-fi, a bank account and several things we can count on, but many of our friends in rural El Salvador don’t have.

 

Some of our friends have gotten in touch with us and this is a brief report about their situation:

 

San Vicente

The community of Guajoyo has closed the main entrance to the community and people are asked to stay at home.

People from Las Anonas are expected to stay at home but they are worried about their “pipianes” (squash). There are almost no job opportunities in Las Anonas, and people recently have relied on harvesting pipianes and selling them to an external vendor that comes on a pick-up truck to take them to the market. The truck has not gone to the community in two weeks and the product will not last.

 

Chalatenango

People from Carasque are staying at home and are aware that police and soldiers are doing patrols in surrounding communities.

In Arcatao, 3 people that entered the country through blind spots were put under quarantine and tests came back negative.

In Teosinte, people from outside the community are not allowed and people are expected to stay at home unless their work requires them to leave the community.

San Jose Las Flores does not report anything new besides the fact that they will cancel their local festivities (“Fiestas patronales”)

 

Suchitoto

The communities organized by PROGRESO have also closed and are not allowing entrance from strangers.

Aguacaliente closed its gates because several cars were going to the lakes. Only people selling bread and vegetables are allowed to get in, as well as those returning from their work.

 

La Libertad

One member of the community El Charcón made masks for the entire community. They also decided to make a census to make sure they have updated information of how many children, elderly people, men and women they have. People are also waiting for the government’s aid since most of them have informal jobs and they are not leaving the community.

 

The central office of CRIPDES remains closed but we will report about the rest of the communities as they get back to us.

 

 

 

 

Last but not least, let’s remember that, on a day like today, 40 years ago, monsignor Romero was murdered for speaking out and being the voice of the voiceless and that, even though he was declared a Saint, his crime is still unpunished.