Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Guatemala

Guatemala: Volcanic Eruption 6-Month update DREF n° MDRGT013

Attachments

A. Situation analysis

Description of the disaster

On 3 June 2018, Guatemala's 3,763-meter (12,346-feet) Fuego Volcano erupted, killing 165 people, leaving 260 people missing and injuring 27 people. The volcano emitted an 8-kilometer (5-mile) stream of hot lava and a dense plume of black smoke and ash that blanketed Guatemala’s capital,
Guatemala City, and other regions. According to Guatemalan authorities, 12,823 people were evacuated from the affected area (please see the map of affected areas); of the evacuated people, 2,851 people remain in collective centres. The fatalities are concentrated in three towns: El Rodeo,
Alotenango and San Miguel Los Lotes. A forensic team continues working on the ground to identify any human remains that are found.

Summary of the current response

Overview of Host National Society

At the onset of the disaster, the GRC deployed a support team from its headquarters to Escuintla to carry out a needs assessment and provide support and guidance to Restoring Family Links (RFL), PSS actions and the provision of medical care in the collective centres.
The GRC is working at the national level, as established in the National Response Plan, which determines the operational structure, lines of action and procedures that facilitate disaster response. The GRC has implemented a cash transfer programme (CTP) in its last two Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) operations, one of which was completed in the last week of December 2017 and was well received by the target community.

Overview of Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in country

There are Partner National Societies (PNSs) present in the country—such as the Spanish Red Cross and Norwegian Red Cross, IFRC and the ICRC—with which the GRC president, general director and staff maintain permanent institutional cooperation and coordination for both the programming of activities and accountability and resource management, among other relevant areas.

In addition to the National Societies that are contributing funds through the emergency appeal, the GRC has received direct funding from the Chinese, South Korean and Italian National Societies to reach 1,300 families; the GRC has already reached 750 families with this funding.

At the regional level, sister National Societies including the Honduran, Salvadorian, Nicaraguan and Mexican Red CrossNational Societies deployed vehicles and 130 tons of humanitarian assistance that were distributed to the affected population. The Spanish Red Cross worked with the GRC to provide water and on the construction of showers and sanitary facilities in the GRC-managed collective centres. The Italian Red Cross assisted with the rehabilitation of the Escuintla branch. In addition, two IFRC Regional Intervention Team (RIT) members with technical capacities in livelihoods were deployed for two months, and one operations manager has been deployed for three months and is still in country.

The GRC has a specific field team for the operation, which is leading the emergency appeal and working jointly with the Spanish Red Cross on its programmes. Furthermore, the field operations coordinator is the liaison between the GRC’s administration, CONRED and other implementing actors.

The IFRC is providing support on Movement coordination through the regional office for the Americas (ARO)’s Disaster and Crisis Department, which maintains close communication with the GRC. With support from the IFRC and as per the institutional response plan, the GRC’s volunteers and staff are implementing the relief actions for the affected population living near the volcano.

The ICRC was supporting the GRC’s implementation of RFL actions and the management of cadavers, in coordination with Guatemalan national authorities.

Overview of non-Red Cross Red Crescent actors in country

The Humanitarian Country Team (composed of UNOCHA, non-governmental organizations [NGOs] and international non-governmental organizations [INGOs]) had regular coordination meetings with CONRED during the reporting period.

In addition to the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, the following organizations are part of the coordination mechanism: UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, WFP, UNHCR, OHCHR, IOM, FAO, Oxfam, Good Neighbours, Plan International, ACH, Mercy Corps, CONRED, UNOCHA, Food for the Hungry, COOPI, Techo, Child Fund, Care, UN Women, Save the Children, UNDSS, UNESCO, World Vision, UN Volunteers, AECID and AWO International.