Guatemala City, Oct 11 (AGN).- Continuing to provide aid to those affected by the natural phenomenon Julia is the objective of the Guatemalan GovernmentPresident Alejandro Giammattei assured.
We will continue to help people. We are going to continue bringing food in the shortest possible time and we will be delivering rations, said the ruler during his speech at a press conference.
Likewise, he thanked the 110 deputies to Congress who ratified the state of public calamity decreed by the Executive. In that sense, he stated that the ratification of the measure will allow the Executive’s assistance to the communities affected by Julia to be speeded up.
In addition, the ruler reported that the passage of the natural phenomenon did not cause major damage to agriculture, something that was feared.
One of the good news is that there is no greater damage in terms of the amount of white corn, which is what we consume, unlike when Eta and Iota were registered, he explained.
#Live | President @DrGiammattei participate in #GTPressConference since @ConredGuatemala. https://t.co/GCc5YL1pYu
— Guatemalan Government (@GuatemalaGob) October 11, 2022
Humanitarian aid
President Giammattei mentioned that this Tuesday a meeting was held with the humanitarian aid group and they will be working with eight different clusters. This with the aim of providing comprehensive care to the victims. This help includes medical, food and housing care, among others.
In addition, he said that work will be done to improve access to distant communities or those that were cut off, to bring support to where it is needed.
Similarly, the President asserted that the monitoring of meteorological phenomena will continue, since the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) foresees the formation of cold fronts that could affect the national territory.
It was mentioned that the #TropicalStormKarl It is moving away from Guatemala, so it does not represent a threat. Emphasis was placed on the waves from the east, phenomena that will reach the national territory in the coming days, generating significant rain. 2/5 pic.twitter.com/DoMS6BIW5u
– INSIVUMEH Guatemala (@insivumehgt) October 12, 2022
Ministry reports
The president was accompanied by ministers of State, who provided a report on the actions undertaken from the different portfolios.
In this sense, the head of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), Alberto Pimentel Mata, pointed out that initially 167,000 homes were without electricity. However, the shares of the portfolio allowed to reduce this number to 108 thousand. He added that it is expected that in the next few days all the homes that were left without service will recover it.
Besides, Claudia Ruíz, Minister of Education, reported that at least 153 affected educational centers were registered.
Of this amount, 50 are located in Izabal, 26 in Chimaltenango, 20 in Alta Verapaz and 23 in El Progreso. The rest are in San Marcos (9); Santa Rosa (6); Huehuetenango and Sacatepéquez (4 each); Totonicapan (3); Chiquimula, Petén and Baja Verapaz (2 each) and Quiché and Zacapa (1 each).
Another important aspect highlighted by the minister was that as of October 12, classes will resume in the department of Guatemala. However, for the rest of the affected departments, the resumption date will be Thursday, October 13.
health and agriculture
Francisco Coma, Minister of Health, reported that slight damage was reported at 14 service points and only one health post, in Alta Verapaz, was left non-operational.
For his part, the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), José Ángel López, said that 250 thousand farming families were affected by the phenomenon.
Likewise, he pointed out that the tropical cyclone affected 147 thousand 234.67 hectares, which represents an economic loss of 957 million 25 thousand 385.63 quetzals.
In this sense, it was indicated that the most affected departments were Izabal, Petén and Escuintla.
In addition, among the affected crops are corn, beans, sesame, rice, squash, banana, plantain, broccoli, coffee, avocado, cardamom, bell pepper, green bean, jocote, okra, cabbage, tobacco and tomato.
For his part, Javier Maldonado, from the Ministry of Communications, stated that his portfolio is already carrying out palliative work to recover the road network.
As a result of Julia passing through Guatemalan territory, 84 roads, 7 buildings and 11 bridges were affected; while the number of roads destroyed is one and the bridges destroyed add up to 7.
Also read:
Guatemalans unite to help those affected by Julia
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