Heavy rain from Hurricane Stan triggers
disaster.
Torrential rains from Hurricane Stan,
which swept across Central America earlier this month, triggered flooding
and landslides that have left more than 650 people dead and thousands homeless
in Guatemala.
Oxfam is helping local organizations buy, store, and distribute food to survivors. In as many cases as possible, we are seeking to procure food from local sources to help pump money into Guatemala's economy.
Towns and villages in the southwestern mountains and along the southern coast were particularly vulnerable to being washed away by mudslides or inundated by rising waters. Government estimates are that more than 130,000 people from 350 villages were affected, with 93,893 people currently in emergency shelters.
Because October is in the rainy season in Guatemala, the ground was already saturated and could not absorb the additional rainfall. Since the earthquakes that rocked the region five years ago, mudslides have become more prevalent and dangerous in heavy rains. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance reported that there were more than 900 landslides, some of which wiped out entire villages in the highland and southwestern departments of Sololá and San Marcos, with significant loss of life. The agency also estimated that damage to the nation's agriculture will surpass $400 million, with producers of livestock, coffee, and bananas particularly affected.
Floods and landslides often contaminate drinking water sources, putting people at risk for waterborne diseases. Oxfam is now assessing water and sanitation needs for displaced people in Guatemala. Our local partners are providing water tanks and systems to hold and distribute clean water, digging latrines, ensuring proper waste disposal, and distributing hygiene items like soap and toothbrushes.
In the days following any serious humanitarian emergency, in-depth assessments of public health and long-term development needs are essential. Oxfam is supporting thorough assessments as a way to ensure that those affected by this disaster get the help they need to not only survive the immediate emergency, but also rebuild their lives while diminishing their vulnerability to future disasters.