Updates from MayaWorks in Guatemala
Response to the Disaster
Update from February 6, 2006
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Report from Kathleen Morkert
(Also see new photos added to the MayaWorks photo albums)
It's hard to find the words to tell you about what we saw and heard and experienced last week in Guatemala and especially in Panabaj, the scene of the most deadly mudslides.
The sides of mountains and volcanoes throughout the country are scarred with naked strips that show the path of the mud that rushed down to lower ground. Many of the roads we traveled had detours due to washed out roads and bridges.
But nothing compared with what we saw in Panabaj…where we had once climbed a hill and steps to visit the MayaWorks stole weavers there is now flat ground…only dirt and rocks and an occasional dead tree. A few pieces of corrugated tin, once a roof to someone's home were scattered throughout the landscape. The few houses still standing on the outskirts of the mud's swath had dirt half way up the walls. Other houses stood with doors bulging outward, dirt pushing them forward. The neighborhood school, the small hospital and a new police station were surrounded by dirt. Now no longer mud, the dirt has been packed down hard as a rock.
And under that dirt, that vast flat land of destruction, lie the bodies of hundreds of people who called Panabaj home, perhaps as many as 1300. It's now a national graveyard and survivors come as they do to a cemetery. Others come to scavenger any wood they can find.
The temporary housing, made quickly with nothing more than canvas siding, is situated not far from the site of the slide. Many people won't stay in the temporary housing because they fear another mudslide. People who lost their homes stay with friends or family or in some of the shelters that still exist.
Organizations from around the world are helping, providing food and medical assistance. The government allowed children to start school without paying the enrollment fee; the church has donated land for new homes.
Fourteen MayaWorks families are in temporary housing of some kind. We were told that the government hopes to provide new, permanent housing in 4 to 6 months but since 4 months have already passed since Hurricane Stan, those hopes seem somewhat dim.
We did see signs of hope: a couple new concrete block homes were in the process of being built; overhead we noticed a surviving tree was showered with bright pink blossoms; outside homes just feet from the mudslide area women hung clothing out to dry; men still walked the road with their machetes and hoes. Life goes on.
Here's what MayaWorks will be doing in the coming weeks and for the long term:
- Mirian Otzin and Diego Chavez will meet with each of the affected families to re-assess their needs and determine how and if MayaWorks can be of assistance.
- Because most families lost their corn crop and won't be able to plant again for another season, microloan payments will be forgiven so that more money is available for daily needs.
- 100 pound bags of corn will be given to about 250 MayaWorks families to tide them over until the next harvest. Usually at this time of year, families have about 10 bags of corn to get them to the next harvest. Now families may have 5 bags available to them. Some families have none.
- Money remaining in the MayaWorks Relief Fund after #1-3 are complete will be kept until families are situated in their new permanent homes. There will be other needs then and MayaWorks will be able to assist in meeting those needs.
We heard many words of gratitude for the help provided by MayaWorks. Mirian told us that people especially appreciated that we purchased items that the larger organizations had not considered: kitchen utensils, underwear, towels, and things for babies. Women were especially grateful that Mirian brought them traditional clothing, so important to their Maya identity.
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