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Guatemala Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025 - Summary

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2.2M PEOPLE IN NEED

1.2M PEOPLE TARGETED

$101M REQUIREMENTS (US$)

Guatemala is facing a multifaceted humanitarian crisis driven by systemic poverty, food insecurity, climate-induced agricultural disruptions, acute malnutrition, and increased human mobility. These challenges are compounded by recent environmental and economic shocks, demanding immediate and coordinated interventions to alleviate human suffering.

Humanitarian Needs

The crisis primarily affects areas impacted by climate events and human mobility, with an estimated 2.2 million people requiring assistance in 2025. Food insecurity remains the most pressing issue, exacerbated by El Niño-induced droughts that devastated staple crops such as maize and beans across 54,000 hectares in 160 municipalities. These disruptions have impacted 9.2 million people, driving food shortages and price hikes that worsen malnutrition. By October 2024, Government reports show acute malnutrition cases in children under five reached 25,000, with 21 per cent classified as severe, resulting in 50 associated deaths. Departments like Alta Verapaz, Huehuetenango, and San Marcos are hardest hit, where nearly 34 per cent of residents face food insecurity.

Currently, 2.9 million people face crisis (IPC Phase 3) and emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of food insecurity, with 386,000 in Phase 4. Food insecurity and malnutrition perpetuate a vicious cycle, increasing vulnerability to illnesses, reducing productivity, and deepening poverty.

Meanwhile, mixed flows have surged, with 223,000 people entering Guatemala between January and September 2024, concentrated in border areas like Tecún Umán and Esquipulas. Migrants, including women and children, are highly vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking.

Urgent interventions are needed to address food shortages, malnutrition, and the risks faced by migrants. Key priorities include food assistance, agricultural support, emergency nutrition programs, migration management, and the establishment of safe transit points.

Response Plan for 2025

The 2025 response strategy focuses on delivering a coordinated, multisectoral approach to address the humanitarian crisis effectively. Of the 81 municipalities identified as critically affected, 60 have been prioritized for targeted interventions. These areas, particularly Alta Verapaz and Huehuetenango, suffer from severe food insecurity and malnutrition, while migration-focused support will center on municipalities like Ayutla, Esquipulas, and Guatemala City.

The strategy involves a comprehensive humanitarian assistance package tailored to the specific crises in each region. Key components include: the provision of food and emergency nutrition programs, access to health services and safe drinking water, shelter and protection for vulnerable populations - including migrants, identification and treatment of acute malnutrition cases, and protection services to mitigate risks of violence, abuse, and trafficking.

Efforts are guided by SPHERE quality standards, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and risk reduction, including measures against sexual exploitation and abuse. This approach aims to maximize the impact of limited resources by avoiding fragmented efforts and ensuring cohesive, well-coordinated assistance. Guatemala’s humanitarian crisis, fueled by food insecurity, climate change, and human mobility, requires urgent global support. The 2025 response plan emphasizes targeted, multisectoral interventions to address critical needs and reduce human suffering. By focusing on the most vulnerable municipalities and populations, the strategy aims to provide life-saving assistance and foster resilience among affected communities.

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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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