Nicaragua confronts impact of two hurricanes
On 2nd and 16th November, two hurricanes with winds of up to 155mph and torrential rain struck the northeastern region of the Caribbean Coast destroying houses, livelihoods, roads, telecommunications, forests, and in some areas, whole communities. The increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes is a consequence of the climate crisis. Once...
Nicaragua reiterates demands for climate justice
Climate change has warmed the waters of the Pacific and the Atlantic causing hurricanes of much greater frequency and intensity. This Atlantic storm season has been the worst in history with 30 named tropical storms including 13 hurricanes. Nicaragua and Honduras have faced the unprecedented, catastrophic consequences of two major hurricanes...
Nicaragua struck by second major hurricane in two weeks
Hurricane Iota, the 13th and strongest hurricane of this Atlantic season, struck Nicaragua and Honduras on 17 November. Once again the hardest hit part of the country was the North Caribbean Autonomous Region, home to the Miskito and Mayagna people, most of whom make their living through subsistence farming and fishing. Winds...
Hurricane Eta causes devastation across northeast Nicaragua
Thirty thousand people were evacuated from islands and low lying coastal areas of north east Nicaragua before category 4 Hurricane Eta struck on 3 November. Hurricane Eta is the 28th Atlantic storm this season and the 12th hurricane: twice as many as an average season. The World Meteorological Organisation ran out of alphabetical...
Life threatening Hurricane ETA to hit Nicaragua
Hurricane ETA that started life as a tropical storm is strengthening very rapidly as it heads towards Nicaragua and Honduras. According to the Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies (INETER), ETA is already a category 2 hurricane and if it continues strengthening wind speeds of up to 175kph are expected when it...
Autumn issue of Nicaragua Now out now!
Nicaragua has suffered not just one but three major blows in two years: the failed coup in 2018, the Covid pandemic and the intensification of US sanctions. What is it about the country that enables it to not only withstand such pressures but also to maintain its commitment to poverty reduction,...
Nicaragua’s success in controlling Covid-19 transmissions
The number of Covid cases and deaths in Nicaragua peaked in the May – June period but since then have dropped significantly; last week one Covid unit in the hospital in Rivas reported no patients at all. The Nicaraguan government started preparations in February, training all 36,000 health workers, equipping 19...
Celebrating World Peace Day, Puerto Morazan, Bristol’s twin town
Be the change you want to see in the world Peace mural unveiled on UN World Peace Day at a school in Bristol's twin town of Puerto Morazan. Mural painted by local artist Henry Rojas....
Celebrating 40th anniversary of world renown literacy crusade
This month marks forty years since the end of a six month literacy crusade during which over 400,000 Nicaraguans learnt basic reading and writing skills for the first time. When the Sandinistas came to power in 1979 their key priority was building ‘a new model of society based on equality, well...
El Aporreado: the bean harvest
At this time of the year the rural community of Santa Julia - like families throughout Nicaragua – brings in the harvest of red beans, one of the country’s staple crops. This involves dehulling the beans so that they can be stored for the rest of the year. Nicaragua has a...