Appeal Number: # 6764
Appeal Amount: $100,000
JUNE 14, 2010
SITUATION: Last month's Tropical Storm Agatha spanned an area from Guatemala to Nicaragua, with Guatemala particularly hard-hit. According to reports earlier this month, the storm killed at least 174 people in Guatemala, with 113 persons still missing and 147 injured.
Guatemala's National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction, known by the acronym CONRED, estimates that 27,112 people experienced some kind of material loss; 162,857 people had to be evacuated from homes and communities; and 27,828 remain in temporary shelters. A total of 22,139 houses were reported damaged.
RESPONSE: Church World Service is responding by supporting efforts of ACT Alliance members in Guatemala. CWS partner and ACT member CIEDEG * Conferencia de Iglesias Evangelicas de Guatemala * is assisting 2,000 families with food supplies, hygiene kits and water filters. The assistance is being targeted for families in 41 communities.
According to CONRED, a large number of families in the affected areas are likely to have difficulties accessing food in the next three months due to damage of public infrastructure and the loss of local food stocks, as well as crop damage.
CWS-supported efforts by CIEDEG are in concert with other ACT Forum members, including Norwegian Church Aid, DanChurchAid and Christian Aid. Damage and needs assessments are continuing and this appeal is expected to be expanded shortly.
Expanded efforts are likely to include work to reclaim agricultural livelihoods; provision of non-food items; and psychosocial care. A key part of CWS-supported efforts will be in ensuring food security for affected areas. This will include providing in local seeds, a seed bank and organic fertilizers.
The locale of programs includes: Western region, department of San Marcos -- Municipality of Concepción Tutuapa: 257 families in 10 communities; southwestern region, department of Suchitepéquez -- Municipality of Santo Domingo: 627 families in 11 communities; Southern region, department of Santa Rosa -- Municipality of Guazacapán: 491 families in 10 communities; municipality of Taxisco: 625 families in 10 communities.
Each food ration consists of 50 pounds of maize; 10 pounds of beans; 5 pounds of rice; 10 pounds of sugar; 1 pound of iodized salt; 1 bottle of cooking oil; 5 pounds of oats and incaparina (low-cost protein food).
BUDGET: Total expenditures: Crisis-phase food assistance and material assistance costs $184,615, and $446,200 for second-phase rehabilitation costs.
HOW TO HELP: Contributions to support this emergency appeal may be sent to your denomination or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. Please designate: 2010 Guatemala Floods, Appeal Number #6764.
Church World Service is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy.
For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is responding please visit www.churchworldservice.org or call the CWS Hotline, (800) 297-1516.
CWS Emergency Response Program special contacts: (212) 870-3151
Program Director: dderr@churchworldservice.org