El Salvador experienced two devastating earthquakes on January 13 and February 13 in 2001. These disasters resulted in more than 1,000 deaths, caused many injuries, destroyed more than 160,000 houses and severely damaged another 110,000 homes. After these disasters, USAID provided $159 million for the El Salvador earthquake reconstruction effort with $100 million of that account designated for the reconstruction of 26,000 low-cost houses through the Government of El Salvador and eight U.S. non-governmental organizations.

Families contributed to the efforts to rebuild their houses by providing non-skilled labor such as carrying materials and water needed for the construction of the foundation of the houses. 23,300 houses across the country have been completed or are under construction. Joy and relief are expressed by the families from the poorest rural areas of El Salvador as they return to their homes which they have worked hard to rebuild.