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Pacaya Volcano Erupts, Tropical Storm Agatha Hits Following Day
NISGUA
6/5/2010

Last week's combination of volcanic eruptions and tropical storm Agatha has wreaked havoc on communities and infrastructure nationwide in Guatemala, while at the same time each disaster severely limited the capacity to respond quickly to the other.

Government estimates include over 150 deaths, 100 disappeared, over 135,000 people evacuated, over 20,000 homes damaged and at least 35 bridges completely destroyed.

Highland indigenous communities, urban communities built on mountainsides, and subsistence farming communities throughout the country are those hardest hit by the most recent disasters in Guatemala.  Communities and individuals will face the long-term effects on physical and psychological health, homes, crops, and infrastructure in the very places that have long confronted structural inequalities and lack of access to economic opportunities and basic services.  The disasters have provided a window and urgency to the reality of daily survival that existed before and will exist long after the disaster itself.  In many cases, the communities themselves are the ones now organizing and distributing relief and planning long-term.

What can you do?

1. Directly support communities and organizations affected by the disaster.  If you are currently in Guatemala, contact us for a list of places where you can drop off donations of food, water, clothes, diapers and other material goods.  If you are outside of Guatemala, you can donate through NISGUA directly to the following organizations working in or made up of affected communities:

Comite Campesino Del Altiplano(CCDA)
The CCDA is a community-based organization in Solola, one of the hardest hit areas.  The organization is providing emergency services in communities and coordinating with 10 local shelters.  In addition to financial donations, the CCDA needs food,water, material goods, phone cards (TIGO), medical volunteers and equipment.  Visit the CCDA blog for more information, pictures and the organization's list of needs.

Asociacion Civil Grupo Pro-Justicia Nueva Linda
The storm destroyed the encampment that the group maintains as a permanent presence in front of the Nueva Linda plantation (finca) to demand justice for the 2003 forced disappearance of leader Hector Reyes and a 2004 violent eviction that led to the death of 9 group members.  The group estimates the losses as a result of tropical storm Agatha at $10,000.  Read more and see pictures from the group here.

Fundacion Guillermo Toriello
The Guillermo Toriello Foundation is coordinating relief efforts with communities in the western departments of Solola and Quiche, receiving and distributing donations of food, water and emergency supplies.

For disaster aid ONLY, please send your tax-deductible donations madeout to NISGUA to:

NISGUA
c/o Melinda Van Slyke
228 East Jefferson Street
Spring Green, WI, 53588

2. Ask the U.S. government to support Temporary Protected Status (TPS)for Guatemalans currently in the U.S.  Contact President Obama and the Department of HomelandSecurity and ask the government to grant TPS for Guatemalans Call theDepartment of Homeland Security Comment Line today at 202-282-8495 [if unable to get through, call the White House Comment line at 202-456-1111 (Fax:202-456-2461)] and urge them to grant TPS for Guatemalans. You can sign an online petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/tps-for-guatemala.

3. Over the long-term, continueto be a voice in the movements for human rights, indigenous rights, and socialand environmental justice. In Guatemala, support the communities calling for integral rural development and free, prior informed consent regarding plans for indigenous territories.

4. For more information:

English: 
BBC articles, NewYork Times articles

Espanol:
Prensa Libre para la informacion masreciente, CONRED

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