Period covered by this Ops Update: 15 April to 18 September 2012.
Appeal target (current): Swiss francs 684,150
Appeal coverage: 100%
Appeal history:
- An Emergency Appeal was launched on 26 October 2011 for 786,728 Swiss francs for 9 months to assist 1,500 families.
- 240,190 Swiss francs were initially allocated from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 19 October 2011 to support the National Society to respond.
- On 20 July, the period of implementation was extended to one year, until 31 October 2012, and featured a revised budget of Swiss francs 715,933
- This operation update includes a further budget revision, and the appeal budget now stands at 684,150 Swiss francs.
Summary
Tropical Depression 12-E severely affected all countries in Central America in October 2011. Its intense rains caused flooding and landslides in Guatemala and affected more than 500,000 persons, of which 82,913 were severely affected. Given the situation, the Guatemalan government decreed a State of Public Calamity on 16 October, and the National Society developed a Plan of Action to assist some 7,500 beneficiaries (1,500 families).
Since the last report in July 2012, the National Society has made significant progress with their livelihood recovery project. The Guatemalan Red Cross (GRC) has supported 627 families with corn seeds and/or poultry as well as technical advice to recover their agricultural production, and many families are already harvesting their first crops. During this time, Red Cross volunteers have also been able to progress with health activities, including an awareness raising campaign in regards of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases during and after emergencies. This activity was completed with new educational materials created in cooperation with UNAIDS and the Guatemalan Ministry of Health. In addition, 876 families were reached with the Community-Based Health and First Aid methodology to contribute to the longer-term health needs of vulnerable communities. Finally, during the past month, the National Society in coordination with the IFRC’s Regional Logistic Service initiated an in-country prepositioning strategy to ensure immediate access to relief items for 460 families. The current operations update includes a revised budget that reflects this new objective.