20 Jul 2018   

85% of people affected by Fuego’s eruption have lost their livelihood

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has revealed that 85% of people affected by Volcán de Fuego’s eruption in Guatemala last month lost their source of income or their business. The survey also found that 43% of those affected were left without land for agricultural activities.

Volcán de Fuego erupted on 2nd June 2018 with little warning, sending ash almost four miles into the air and covering nearby villages in pyroclastic flow: a dangerous and fast moving mixture of hot ash and volcanic gas.

There have been over 100 recorded fatalities from the eruption and over 3,200 people were evacuated from the area. It is estimated that a total of 1.7 million were affected by the eruption.

To address the emergency and understand the needs of the affected the IOM worked closely alongside the Government of Guatemala to conduct surveys and evaluate the characteristics of the affected.

The survey revealed that 41% of people need housing, 25% need work, 18% need land for agriculture and 7% need economic aid. Additionally, 9% need training, scholarships, furniture and health supplies.

The results of the survey also revealed that all of the provided shelter have acceptable security perimeters and clinics for primary medical care. However, the shelters have poor levels of clean water, sanitation, protection and health.

In response, the IOM plans will provide $319,980 from the Central Emergency Response Fund for the improvement of infrastructure in the shelters.

The IOM Mesoamerica Programme has also provided informative materials for children, adolescents and parents to prevent crimes of sexual violence and trafficking. Women are girls face a heightened risk of gender-based violence following a crises as protection systems can break down.

The information has been disseminated in coordination with the Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (SVET), and with the support of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration of the United States Department of State.

 

Join us for the 10th Anniversary AIDF Global Summit in Washington D.C, USA on 5-6 September 2018 to discuss disaster resilience and response across the Americas.

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Image credit: Rodrigo Pardo/EPA