World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Since 11 October 2011, torrential rains have caused floods, landslides and serious damages to homes, agriculture and road infrastructure throughout the country.

Areas of the country along the Pacific coast in the department of Escuintla have been seriously affected.

Maize crops and banana plantations, among others, have been lost.

The population is being evacuated to shelters, leaving behind their belongings and their livestocks. According to Vice President Rafael Espada, some 154,000 people have been affected and approximately 8,000 have arrived in shelters.

WFP delivered a total of 10 metric tons of ready-to-eat High Energy Biscuits or HEBs to the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) for distribution among the most vulnerable Guatemalan communities.

The same day the High Energy Biscuits or HEBs were received at CONRED warehouses, the first shipment was delivered to the departments of Chimaltenango and Jutiapa.

The HEBs were transported in a convoy of 4x4 vehicles to the affected areas. Some communities have been isolated for more than seven days as roads remain impassable.