Guatemala

USAID/OFDA provided emergency food commodities following Tropical Storm Agatha in May 2010.

Manuel Gramajo/USAID

The Government of Guatemala National Emergency Response Commission (CONRED) reported that flooding and landslides throughout the country affected an estimated 255,000 people and caused nearly 40 deaths following sustained, heavy rainfall in October 2011.  In response, the Guatemalan Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations organized preventative evacuations, established emergency shelters that hosted more than 6,000 people, and conducted damage and humanitarian needs assessments in flood-affected areas.

USG HUMANITARIAN FUNDING PROVIDED IN FY 2012

*This figure includes funding for both disaster response and disaster risk reduction activities. (As of September 4, 2012)

Central America Floods Fact Sheet #5 (331kb PDF)

Key Developments

On October 15, 2011, U.S. Ambassador Arnold A. Chacon declared a disaster due to the extent of flooding and the numbers of people affected.  USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) provided an initial $50,000 through USAID/Guatemala to CONRED for local procurement and distribution of non-food emergency relief commodities—chlorinated water, water filters, blankets, and fuel—to benefit flood-affected people.  To date, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, USAID/OFDA has provided more than $3 million for both disaster response and disaster risk reduction activities in Guatemala.