RELOCATING MOROLICA: VULNERABILITY AND RESILIENCE IN POST-MITCH HONDURAS By MARIA-JESUS OLIVO DIAZ LOPEZ LATIN AMERICAN COLLECTION A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2002 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In completing this research I have benefited from the assistance, inspiration and encouragement of many professors, colleagues and friends. I would like to begin by expressing my utmost respect and gratitude for the people of Morolica. I hope that in some way this research will have a positive impact on the continuing reconstruction of their lives and their community by revealing to the academic and development world some of their concerns, interests and hopes. I am indebted to the various families who welcomed me into their homes—whether houses or makeshift shelters—who started off as participants in my study and ended by becoming my friends. I wish to express my deepest appreciation to my mentors in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Florida. First and foremost I would like to thank Tony Oliver-Smith, chairperson of my doctoral committee. His guidance and his example as a scholar and mentor have served me as a constant source of inspiration. Special thanks also go to Anita Spring whose open door and expertise on gender issues profoundly shaped my development as an anthropologist. I am also grateful to Allan Burns for his example of how an applied anthropologist can successfully balance the demands of fieldwork and academia. The insightful advice of Felix Berardo and Tina Gurucharri guided the completion of this work and contributed to my project, particularly in its formative stages. Marianne Schmink, although not officially a member of my supervisory committee, was also instrumental in the completion of this dissertation. I am particularly indebted to her for her insights into gender political ecology and participatory research ii methods. These scholars have been constant models and sources of inspiration for my professional training. Several institutions helped to make this study possible. The field research for this dissertation was funded by a grant from the International Hurricane Center. I am also thankful for the support offered by the Instituto Hondureno de Antropologia e Historia (IHAH) in Tegucigalpa, and to the researchers from the School of Agricultural Development in El Zamorano, Honduras, who allowed me to participate in their exercises and shared their experiences with me. I am particularly indebted to numerous professionals from the United Nations System in Honduras who offered me free access to invaluable documents and were always available for consultation. I would like to recognize many colleagues and friends who shaped my thoughts in the research process. These include Greg De Vries, Vilma Fuentes, Roberto Barrios, David Kennedy, Tim Fogarty, Tony Oliver-Smith, and Jim Stansbury who, immediately after Hurricane Mitch and for months afterwards, frequently gathered to exchange ideas about disasters and reconstruction in Central America. Mane Lopez, a visiting anthropologist from the University of La Coruna, Spain, taught me the basics of SPSS and made data input an almost enjoyable task. I extend special thanks to Brad Ensor for his assistance with data analysis and for his love and constant support and motivation. I am privileged to have worked with such talented and inspirational individuals. Finally, I would like to thank my parents Angel and Julia whose love and encouragement crossed the Atlantic and inspired me to pursue my dreams. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF FIGURES vii ABSTRACT ix CHAPTERS 1 INTRODUCTION 1 Overview 2 Trends in the Anthropology of Disaster 5 Political Ecology and the Vulnerability Approach 9 Models for the Study of Displaced Populations 15 Limitations of Currents Approaches 20 Gendered Alternatives to the Study of Disasters and Relocation 22 Structure of Dissertation 26 Summary 30 2 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 32 Ethical Dimensions of Disaster Research 32 Research Questions 35 Research Design and Methodology 35 Summary 42 3 HONDURAS: THE ROOT CAUSES OF DISASTER 43 Physical and Demographic Factors 43 Politico-Economic Factors 50 Gender Factors 62 Summary 68 IV 4 ANTIGUA MOROLICA: THE SETTING OF THE DISASTER 70 Southern Honduras 70 The Department of Choluteca 77 The Municipality of Morolica 80 Gender Issues in Morolica 87 Summary 96 5 THE DISASTER: THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE MITCH 97 Hurricane Mitch 97 Responses to the Disaster 106 The Destruction of Morolica 110 Post-Disaster Relocation in Honduras 115 The Relocation of Morolica 118 Summary 124 6 DISASTER EVANGELISM: RELIGION AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE .125 Religious Pluralism in Honduras 126 Disaster Evangelism 130 Religion as a Catalyst for Change in Post-Mitch Morolica 132 Religion and Gender in Morolica 136 Religious Pluralism, Vulnerability and Displacement 140 Summary 143 7 NUEVA MOROLICA: LIFE IN A RELOCATED COMMUNITY 145 The Role of Humanitarian Assistance 145 Relocation and Reconstruction Programs in Morolica 150 Post-Relocation Livelihood Strategies 162 Summary 174 8 CONCLUSION: VULNERABILITY AND RESILIENCE 176 The Challenges for Reconstruction and Development 176 Lessons Learned in Nueva Morolica 183 Current Trends and Recommendations for the Future 190 Concluding Thoughts 195 APPENDIX A QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE INHABITANTS OF MOROLICA SPANISH .... 200 B QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE INHABITANTS OF MOROLICA ENGLISH . 204 v REFERENCES 208 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 222 vi LIST OF TABLES Table page 3- 3-1 Departments, Municipalities, Hamlets and Population in Honduras 47 4- 3-2 Gender-related Development Index. Honduras: 1990-1997 65 3-3 Central America: Gender-related Development Indices 66 4 Honduras: Gender Empowerment Measure 1997-1999 67 4- 1 HDI for the Department of Choluteca in 1 998 68 5- 4-2 Unemployment Rates in the Department of Choluteca 80 4-3 Demographic Data on Morolica 83 4-4 Population Distribution by Age in 1998 84 7- 4-5 Pre-Mitch Income-Generating Activities 90 8- 6 Membership in Associations 94 1 Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale 98 5-2 Rain Totals from October 25 to 3 1, 1998 99 5-3 Fifty Years of Destruction 100 5-4 Summary of Damages in Honduras 103 5-5 Summary of Damages in Morolica Centro 112 1 Institutions that Worked in Morolica 147 1 Human Development Index. Honduras 1997:2000 177 vii 3- LIST OF FIGURES 4- 5- Figure page 6- 7- 1 Honduras and Central America 45 1 Map Showing the Departments of Honduras 71 1 Dysentery by Gender and Age 120 1 Religious Affiliation by Gender in Morolica 139 1 Intended Occupation in Nueva Morolica (Women) 165 7-2 Intended Occupation in Nueva Morolica (Men) 167 7-3 Most Liked Feature about Nueva Morolica (Women) 169 7-4 Most Liked Feature about Nueva Morolica (Men) 170 7-5 Least Liked Feature about Nueva Morolica (Women) 171 7-6 Least Liked Feature about Nueva Morolica (Men) 171 7-7 Prioritization of Needs 173 vm Abstract of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy RELOCATING MOROLICA: VULNERABILITY AND RESILIENCE IN POST-MITCH HONDURAS By Maria-Jesus Olivo Diaz Lopez August 2002 Chairperson. Anthony Oliver- Smith Major Department: Anthropology This dissertation responds to the need for a greater understanding of the little explored reconstruction stages that follow the immediate emergency phase after a disaster. Specifically, this study analyzes the impact of post-disaster resettlement and reconstruction on the survival strategies adopted by the inhabitants of Morolica, a Southern Honduran town swept away by floods caused by Hurricane Mitch in October 1998. Guided by a gendered political ecological framework, this study uses a combination of qualitative and participatory research methods complemented with quantitative methods and data analysis. Hurricane Mitch, one of the worst natural disasters to hit Central America in recorded history, resulted in widespread death and destruction due to a convergence of the highly vulnerable economy, unequal distribution of resources, widespread food insecurity and severe environmental degradation that characterized Honduras prior to the disaster. In Morolica, the only town relocated after the hurricane, a number of IX humanitarian agencies were collaborating with the local population on the reconstruction of the community. Findings indicate that both the disaster and the subsequent recovery interventions had a differential impact on the affected women and men. Gender was central to positioning both women and men vis-a-vis the civilian and religious reconstruction authorities working in Morolica, and determined people’s access to the assistance provided. Post-disaster recovery efforts had a profound impact on the religious beliefs and practices of the Morolican population, as several Evangelical missions collaborated with the population on the reconstruction of their community. The rates and reasons reported for conversion to Evangelism were different for each gender, further underscoring the importance of considering gender differentials in any study of social change. The significance of this dissertation lies in what it reveals about the ways women and men cope with overwhelming destruction and change caused not just by catastrophes or post-disaster resettlement schemes, but also by the efforts of powerful religious and humanitarian institutions.