Strengthening FbF readiness and disaster preparedness in Guatemala

The Guatemalan Red Cross has been developing protocols since 2019 for volcanic ash, tropical storms and droughts. To promote institutional preparedness for the development of early actions in the country, the FbF readiness project was officially launched in November of 2020.

Project objective

The project seeks to provide extensive support to the National Society in further developing the preparedness and response system (procedures, structures, coordination and capacities) to ensure that, once a trigger does occur, the National Society can implement the early actions in the short window between a forecast and the event.

Anticipation in practice: project description

In Guatemala, volcanic ashfall, tropical storms, and drought, combined with a highly vulnerable population, result in significant impacts across the country. To reduce the harm these events cause, the Guatemalan Red Cross is seeking more coordinated efforts and anticipation. The protocols that will be developed will assist to 3,500 families each. Some of the early actions that could be developed include:

• community awareness training
• distribution of health, WaSH and livelihood kits, according to impacts
• cash transfers to help families cover their basic needs in the face of evacuation or flood-related losses.

Outcomes and lessons learnt

As support for FbF has just begun, outcomes and lessons are still to be determined.

Humanitarian actions after Volcanic Ashfall of “Volcán de Fuego”