Following the devastating hurricane in Nicaragua and Honduras, local organisations supported by Christian Aid are stepping up their relief efforts.

Hurricane Felix has left more than 200 people dead or missing, and tens of thousands homeless.

The hurricane hit north-eastern Nicaragua on Tuesday 4 September as a maximum strength category five storm, with wind speeds of up to 160 miles per hour.

The Atlantic coastal communities of Sandy Bar Bay and Bilwi, also known as Puerto Cabezas, were the worst hit, having affected more than 150,000 people.

Christian Aid is responding through ACT (Action by Churches Together), an international network of church-based agencies that come together to co-ordinate humanitarian response work.

"We are working closely with other ACT members to co-ordinate our response and avoid duplication," explains Neptaly Medina, Christian Aid's emergencies officer for Central America.

After passing through Nicaragua, Felix swept on through Honduras. The storm weakened over land, but heavy rains still caused flooding and landslides, destroying homes, roads, bridges, drains and crops.

In the northern Honduran province of Cortés, the River Ulúa rose by almost eight metres and broke its banks.

Christian Aid's local partners had been monitoring the river closely, helping with identifying shelters, and organising emergency evacuations and build flood barriers.

Now these local organisations are distributing food, water, plastic sheeting and mattresses to families who had to flee their homes.

CASM (the Mennonite Social Action Committee), a local organisation supported by Christian Aid, has been running disaster preparedness workshops with communities near the River Ulúa for over a year, helping them to set up early warning systems, local risk maps and evacuation plans.

As Felix blew in, CASM provided fuel, rope, waterproof jackets and boots to help with emergency evacuations.

Partners in Honduras began immediate relief efforts by drawing on their reserve funds. Christian Aid will be sending more money to support their continued relief and rehabilitation work over the coming weeks and months.

Local organisations overseas supported by Christian Aid are at the forefront when disasters and emergencies strike. You can help support their work by donating to our Emergencies fund.