WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today said a delegation of U.S. experts that he and the U.S. Agency for International Development will bring to Central America at President Clinton's direction will help nations devastated by Hurricane Mitch recover and rebuild from the savage storm.

Tipper Gore announced today in Honduras that Cuomo and officials of USAID will travel to Central America with U.S. private sector experts in housing reconstruction, economic development and infrastructure development to provide expert advice to nations there.

Cuomo said the trip will take place in several weeks and include stops in Nicaragua and Honduras.

"The nations of Central America cannot recover from this devastating hurricane alone," Cuomo said. "There is nothing we can do about the terrible pain and loss created by the estimated 10,000 deaths caused by Hurricane Mitch. President Clinton and Vice President Gore are mobilizing our military and federal agencies to help the survivors of this tragedy begin the slow and painful process of rebuilding their homes, their businesses and the infrastructure that has been destroyed."

"In times like these, the nations and peoples of the world must stand united in our determination to help Central America," Cuomo said. "We are guided by the Spanish saying: 'Nosotros somos mas que amigos, somos hermanos y hermanas. Somos uno.' ('We are more than friends, we are brothers and sisters. We are one.')"

Cuomo earlier visited Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti at President Clinton's request to help speed recovery efforts from Hurricane Georges.