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United Nations Naciones Unidas Office of The UNITED NATIONS NACIONES UNIDAS OFFICE OF THE RESIDENT COORDINATOR Guatemala Tropical Storm Agatha and Pacaya Volcano Situation Report: No.5 June 4, 2010; 10h00 This report covers the period from 2 to 4 June. The next report will be issued on or around June 7. I. HIGHLIGHTS / KEY PRIORITIES 166 people have been reported dead, and 105 missing Around 89,000 people are in 453 shelters in 206 municipalities 226,600 people have been affected by the tropical storm. The United Nations in Guatemala is mobilizing resources from their regular emergency funds in order to support life-saving operations An Emergency Cash Grant has been requested as immediate response UN Agencies and the Humanitarian Network are preparing a CERF application and a Flash Appeal Municipalities benefited through humanitarian assistance. II. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION 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 affecting 21 of the 22 departments of the country a phenomenon not registered since 1948. The effects of Pacaya volcano’s eruption on May 27th limited and delayed the search, rescue and humanitarian operations due to the closing of the international airport. Additionally, volcanic ash aggravated the situation by clogging the sewers collapsing the water drainage system, which flooded streets, and blocked access to main roads and bridges. National authorities report that at least 166 people have died, approximately 226,600 people were evacuated, and around 89,000 are in shelters. The search and rescue activities continue for some 105 people who disappeared in floods or landslides, and CONRED continues in red alert. Damage to crops of corn, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, carrots, fruits and coffee. It is estimated that approximately $ 8 million will be needed to meet urgent requirements of the agricultural sector. Official reports indicate that about 65 water systems are collapsing. There is a critical need for mechanisms to provide drinking water and sanitation for about half of the shelters set. People who remain in shelters have been assisted with kitchen, and hygiene kits, and food bags. Until now they have delivered about 70,000 food rations Guatemala, with a population of about 13 million, is one of Latin America's poorest countries. Half of its people live below the poverty line, while 17 percent are considered indigent. And the impact of these emergencies is aggravated by the current food insecurity and acute malnutrition emergency, as well as dengue outbreak and the government’s budget deficit. WFP has distributed 178 MT of food to 26,367 people in 173 shelters in Izabal, Jutiapa, Zacapa, Suchitepequez, El Progreso, Totonicapan, Quetzaltenango and Escuintla. WFP estimates that it will need to distribute additional assistance to assist 29,611 people in 111 shelters in the provinces of Solola, El Quiche, Jalapa, Sacatepequez, Alta Verapaz, Chimaltenango and Retalhuleu in the next days. WFP monitors are currently deployed in the field verifying the amount of food assistance necessary for these shelters, as well as supervising the distributions already taking place. WFP is distributing 1,078 MT of food to some 30,000 people in four departments affected by the storm, through the European Union Extraordinary Food Security and Nutrition Program. III. NEEDS AND HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE NEEDS 1 June the Government invited international community to a meeting at CONRED and made an appeal for humanitarian and other assistance. Some $50 million are necessary to rebuild key access points (bridges, roads), for medical supplies and for the reactivation of agricultural production, which is the main source of income for the families who were affected by the storm. About $10 million per month is the estimated requirement to cover food necessities. RESPONSE The National Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction (CONRED) is responding to both emergencies in order to save lives and assist the affected population. Volcano Eruption: Through local authorities coordination is carrying out humanitarian actions in the areas affected by the eruption. 2 Tropical Storm Agatha: SOUTHCOM and JTF-Bravo, Mexican Defense Civil, and the Guatemalan airfield have been mobilized around 350 TONS of humanitarian assistance throughout the country. Road crews continue working non-stop to clear the main infrastructure and rail networking. IV. COORDINATION The Humanitarian Aid and Assistance Coordination Center has been activated, as the first step leading to a national appeal for international assistance. The sectors of coordination have been established, and UN Agencies and the Humanitarian Network are working under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator The United Nations in Guatemala in coordination with local counterparts are mobilizing resources from their regular emergency funds in order to support life-saving operations, V. FINANCING Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR/UNDP), has approved $100,000 in response to the State of Calamity declared by the Government of Guatemala An emergency cash grant of around $75,000 has been requested to support immediate response. UNFPA has purchased 3,000 dignity kits which will be distributed through the Red Cross and Municipality of Guatemala to women in emergency shelters in need of assistance. It is estimated that some 24,000 women in reproductive age are living in shelters due to this emergency. Technical and financial assistance is being provided to the Ministry of Health and Women´s Presidential Secretariat to assure the provision of contraceptives, sexual violence and clean delivery kits, and communication materials to sensitize on prevention of sexual violence against women. UNICEF has allocated $ 500,000.00 to its partners for emergency assistance an relief items. PAHO has received US$50,000 from the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID) for the purchase of supplies and staff mobilization. Ministry of Health will prioritized the attention in the prevention and treatment of diseases such as respiratory infections, diseases transmitted for food, dengue and mental health of affected families. UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture will implement an emergency intervention of $75,000 to begin the preservation process. Also, $50,000 have been allocated to the reconstruction fund of schools affected by Agatha, in response to a request of the Embassy of France in Guatemala. VI. CONTACT INFORMATION Fur further details please contact: René Mauricio Valdes, Resident Coordinator. Email address: [email protected] Phone number: +502 2384-3120 or Salvador Aguilera, Special Assistant of the Resident Coordinator Email address: [email protected] Phone number: +502 4151-2284 Willem Vanmilink, World Food Programme Representative/ UNETE Coordinator Email address: [email protected] Phone number: +502 5994-9670 Marissa Soberanis, Information Assistant Redhum Emaril address: [email protected] Phone Nomber: +502 5508-7026 Fur further information please visit: http://www.redhum.org/ To be added or deleted from this SitRep mailing list, please email [email protected] 3 .
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