This project will provide food and medicine to 852 families for a month who lost their homes to mudslides and flooding from hurricanes Eta and Iota. In addition, it will contribute to the cost of relocating their communities and rebuilding their homes.
In Nov. hurricane Eta swept through Central America killing dozens and forcing 100,000s to evacuate their homes. A week later, hurricane Iota tore through the region. Once again, the rain and winds caused massive devastation. In Maya territory in NW Guatemala, the 852 families we've identified have suffered immense losses from the hurricanes pushing many into extreme poverty. They are currently staying in schools, shelters or with family members. Their crops and food stores were destroyed.
This project will provide basic food and medicine to the 852 families, which includes 3,244 people, that we have identified who have lost their homes. In the short term, it will prevent malnutrition and promote the health of members of these families. In the long term, it will also contribute to the cost of relocating or rebuilding homes, contributing to the stability and well-being of these families.
This project will improve the health and increase the life expectancy of thousands of people in predominantly indigenous communities in a remote, under-served region of Guatemala. It will prevent dangerous malnutrition, which, especially in children, can have devastating long-term affects. It will also help these families rebuild their homes and their lives, hopefully preventing them from having to migrate away from their traditional homelands.