Guatemala - IOM, working with its partner Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), has delivered aid including shelter kits and kitchen sets to 900 families affected by an earthquake three months ago in the rural department of San Marcos in western Guatemala.

Another 600 families, also affected by the November 7th 2012 earthquake, which affected some 60,000 people and damaged over 5,000 homes, will receive similar non-food relief kits from an IOM partner agency – Mercy Corps.  

“We are targeting 1,500 families who lost their homes and were left with virtually nothing.  These items will really improve their living conditions,” explained IOM Emergency Response Officer Sebastian Berkovich.

The IOM assistance was made possible by a USD 459,000 grant from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). It aims to establish and maintain basic living and sanitary conditions for people still living in temporary shelters.  

IOM is also working with UNICEF to provide emergency shelter and UNFPA to provide psychosocial support to the affected families. WFP is providing food and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO are leading the effort to improve water, sanitation and hygiene.

For more information, please contact

IOM Guatemala Communications Office
Tel: +502.231.40000
Email: iomguatemalapress@iom.int