OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs):
Guatemala Flash Appeal- Tropical Storm Agatha - 11 June 2010
The first tropical storm of the 2010 Pacific hurricane season, Agatha, made landfall on the Pacific coast of Guatemala on May 29, dumping more than 426 mm of rain in a short period of time and affecting 21 of the 22 departments of the country. Rainfall and damage across such a large part of the country is a phenomenon not seen since 1948. At the same time the effects of the Pacaya volcanic eruption on May 27 limited and delayed search and rescue operations as well the provision of humanitarian relief. The eruption closed the international airport, and large amounts of volcanic ash clogged water drainage systems.
In total, approximately 392,600 people need humanitarian assistance, most of whom live in isolated rural areas across the country.Heavy losses to the production of basic grains and limited access to food and seeds have aggravated the current food insecurity and acute malnutrition emergency. The Ministry of Agriculture (MAGA) calculated that about 25,000 hectares have been damaged or destroyed, representing $38 million in losses.
This overall situation prompted the Government of Guatemala to declare a State of National Calamity on May 29, which was ratified with Decree No.15-2010, leading to an appeal for international assistance of US$1100 million, on 1 June.
the Humanitarian Network is seeking $15,533,045 to address the immediate needs of approximately 390,000 people who the Government currently reports have been affected by the tropical storm and floods. Priority activities have identified in the sectors of Agriculture, Early Recovery, Education, Food, Health, Shelter, and Water and Sanitation.
In addition to this Flash Appeal, an earlier appeal for Guatemala – the Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition Appeal, launched in March 2010 – is also currently active. In order to avoid potential duplication, each sector of this Flash Appeal has carefully planned its operations so as to avoid duplication and overlap of effort, needs, and beneficiaries. Populations already receiving assistance under the on-going food insecurity appeal will not form part of any caseload of this Flash Appeal.
Partnership types of interest
Project funding
Guatemala Flash Appeal 11 June 2010
Reliefweb - Guatemala Appeal site
TimingJune - December 2010
Regions / countries / territoriesGlobal issues
Disasters and humanitarian affairs
DisastersSep 2009 - Guatemala: Food Insecurity; May 2010 - Central America: Floods and Landslides; May 2010 - Guatemala: Pacaya Volcano