Press Releases

UH-60 Black Hawk

CH-47 Chinook

Continuing U.S. Government Assistance To Emergency Relief Efforts in Guatemala

Guatemala, October 8, 2005

The Government of the United States and the American people continue to extend to the Government and people of Guatemala our solidarity and assistance in response to the extensive loss of life and damage to property caused by the heavy rains, flooding and resulting landslides.

The United States Government is committed to working closely with the Guatemalan Government and people to meet the emergency needs caused by Tropical Storm Stan. The U.S. mission in Guatemala, working with the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Southern Command, continues to supply assistance to meet priority needs as requested and coordinated by CONRED, Guatemala's disaster response coordinator.

To date, USAID has delivered more than $200,000 (more than 1,500,000 quetzales) in relief supplies to Guatemala, including funding for the helicopter transport of emergency relief supplies and for the purchase of food, water and other supplies. Fuel has been purchased for the Guatemalan air bridge to deliver emergency supplies. USAID has flown in 5,000 blankets, plastic tarpaulins to provide temporary shelter for 1,000 families, and 5,000 personal hygiene kits containing blankets, soap and other toiletries.

In addition, U.S. Southern Command has delivered eight helicopters -- six UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and two CH-47 Chinook helicopters -- to assist Guatemala in search and rescue operations in priority areas. On October 8, U.S. helicopters have flown to San Marcos to assist in search and rescue operations and to deliver critical relief supplies and CONRED personnel involved in search-and-rescue to areas isolated by flooding. A team from the non-governmental organization Communicators without Borders was transported to San Marcos to help provide emergency search-and-rescue communications to the area. Southern Command helicopters will continue to provide search-and-rescue support to help save lives in the coming days, including focus on priority affected areas.