The EU brings relief to victims of Guatemala's floods
07/12/2017
The EU is a long-time supporter of increased food security for Guatemala's most vulnerable families. � WFP-Miguel_Vargas_Corzante
By: European Commission
Following the floods caused by Guatemala's exceptionally strong rain season, the European Commission is providing €90 000 in humanitarian aid to assist 3500 people in the central Alta Verapaz department. This assistance will support the Guatemalan Red Cross in delivering much-needed assistance to victims of the floods.
The most vulnerable families will receive €90 in cash, water storage equipment and filters, as well as mosquito nets and repellents to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
The funding is part of the EU's overall contribution to the disaster relief emergency fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The 2017 rain season, the most extreme in the past 25 years according to the Guatemalan authorities, claimed 31 lives and left 420 000 people homeless, according to Guatemala's National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred).
In total, 609 schools and 142 roads were also damaged by the rains, while 18 bridges were destroyed.
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