Hurricane Eta Update: Where, Who, and What?

Uncategorized

Dec 10

Written By

One of our current projects is responding to the devastating impact of the double-hit of Hurricane Eta and Hurricane Iota in Guatemala. Natural disaster relief, particularly during a pandemic and in mountainous Indigenous communities, is challenging, and we are planning intentionally to ensure the most effective outcomes. Amidst the election and pandemic, the hurricanes did not receive very much major media coverage. To keep our network updated, we're outlining the major "where, who, and what" of our relief efforts through this blog post.

Where?

Rural mountainous communities in Guatemala can't usually be located through a street name style address, so we are zooming in on the community of focus through the coordinates 15°35'32.0"N 91°17'19.7"W. As seen in the image below, the community of Mixlaj is located outside the closest major city of Huehuetenango, and is alongside the river Ixcan. Its mountain location, combined with its proximity to the river, has made it a prime target for devastating flooding and mudslides.

We are focusing on this community in particular because its Western location means it is outside the perimeter of the areas receiving most hurricane aid. The hurricane swept in from the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, and most relief efforts have been directed to the more obvious and more accessible, Eastern regions. However, Mixlaj's geographic location and features have actually only exacerbated the impact of the hurricane and this community's needs. As an Indigenous community, they also lacked resources compared to other communities in Guatemala even before the hurricane, making the impact even more devastating.

Who?

For this project, we are collaborating with several organizations currently on the ground in Guatemala. The goal of this coalition is twofold. It allows us to be "on the ground" while we cannot travel ourselves to Guatemala due to pandemic restrictions, while also ensuring that our efforts are community-driven. We are collaborating with ADESJU (Asociación Para el Desarollo Sostenible del Juventud, a project funded by Inter-American Foundation), Asocuch (Asociación de Organizaciones de Los Cuchumantanes), Semillas de Amor, and Colectivo Nueve de Diciembre. This coalition allows us to be engaged with both formal and informal entities in the region.

What?

Natural disaster response requires both short-term and long-term action plans. Our short-term response includes providing feminine hygiene kits and materials for temporary housing shelters. The feminine hygiene kit distribution began as a direct response to women's expressed need in the community. It was a repeated issue that emergency aid provided by the government lack essential items for women. Our second short-term response includes providing laminate roofing to construct temporary housing shelters.

In the long-term, we will support Mixlaj in relocation. This process includes not just the physical reconstruction of housing and other necessities but researching and selecting a safe relocation zone. Historically, many Indigenous communities in Guatemala have been relocated by the government following a natural disaster without regard for their new location's viability. We are looking to engage in a thorough geographical mapping study to ensure that the community can relocate safely and sustainably, given the likelihood of further natural disasters.