Rescue efforts have now ended following
the devastating landslide that hit the community of El Porvenir, 95 miles
west of Guatemala City, on 13 September. Thirty-one people, including four
families, lost their lives when heavy rain and flooding sent a hillside
crashing through the town, destroying 27 houses. Five people are still
unaccounted for.
Guatemalan Red Cross volunteers are
continuing to provide psychological support to the affected population,
some of whom are still living in temporary shelters. Local health professionals
have received guidelines from Red Cross volunteers on how they can continue
monitoring the emotional state of the population.
Two hundred and thirty people are staying in the shelters in the nearby municipality of San Lucas Tolimán. Another 127 people are spending their days in El Porvenir and their nights in a shelter in a school in the adjacent community of Totolya.
The landslide killed 24 farm animals and destroyed part of the maize and coffee harvest, as well as the vegetable gardens planted on the edge of the Rio Seco. Rehabilitation work, which started on 23 September, is expected to be completed in approximately one week, making it possible for those made homeless in El Porvenir to move into their new homes.
Red Cross volunteers involved children in various activities such as football or drawing to identify the worst affected, studying their behaviour and watching for signs of isolation, anger and sadness. People from the community were provided with psychological tools and techniques that could be used in their communities. The same activities were also carried out in the shelters of San Lucas Tolimán.
The Guatemalan Red Cross brought drinking water and donated balls, papers, pencils and coloured pens for the children. The community, authorities and other organizations were very positive about the Red Cross intervention and endorsed the emotional support activities that had proven, and continued to be, very necessary.
The Guatemalan Red Cross is planning further short-term interventions based on health activities, including health assessments and services and continuing psycho-social support.