September 16, 2002, Baltimore, MD -
Heavy rainfall in the highlands of western Guatemala caused flooding
and landslides that leveled a hillside in the community of El Porvenir,
95 miles west of Guatemala City. The homes of more than 60 families were
destroyed, and 28 people are confirmed to have been killed -- among them
14 children. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has responded with immediate
cash donations for emergency supplies.
"This is one of the poorest areas
of the country," said Dula James, CRS Country Representative for Guatemala.
"The homes are often built with inadequate materials. When heavy rains
like these come, the combination of deforested land and poorly constructed
houses leaves people extremely vulnerable. This is a problem that extends
beyond immediate needs, and we will look to attend to the medium and longer
term needs of the community here as well."
CRS is working with a local partner, the Guillermo Toriello Foundation, to provide immediate assistance to the families who have been displaced. Food, medicine and basic household supplies will be distributed; assessments regarding the needs of the landslide victims will be ongoing during the next few weeks.
The largest of the Central American countries, Guatemala has a population of more than 12 million people. Although a brutal 36-year civil war ended in 1996, the country continues to struggle economically. More than half of all Guatemalans live on less than $1 a day, with indigenous Maya among the poorest of the poor. CRS has worked in Guatemala since 1962, with programs in agriculture, education, health, HIV/AIDS, civil society, microfinance and emergency response.
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. The agency provides assistance to people in more than 87 countries and territories on the basis of need, not race, creed or nationality.
For information about CRS' work in Guatemala, or any of our other programs around the world, please visit our website www.catholicrelief.org