Operation CENTRAL

November 1998 - December 1998

When Hurricane Mitch struck Central America, it killed at least 11,000 people and left more than 3 million homeless. Flooding was a major source of trouble, and outbreaks of water-borne diseases, especially cholera, were reported in many areas. As part of the international relief effort, Canada contributed the CF Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which deployed to La Cieba, Honduras with 180 personnel organized in medical, engineering, logistics and security sections.

The mission priorities were: sanitation and water treatment to stop the spread of disease; delivery of emergency health care to the injured and sick; provision of emergency electrical power; and rebuilding bridges and clearing landmines so that transport could get moving again with much-needed supplies.

Operation CENTRAL was the first deployment of the entire DART with all its capabilities.