Press Releases

Reconstruction of Water Systems after Hurricane Stan

Official Ceremony to inaugurate the newly rehabilitated water systems for Cuilco, Huehuetenango, at the Distribution Center of Cuilco´s Agricultural Cooperative.

Cuilco, Huehuetenango, March 30, 2006

With the passage of Hurricane Stan in October 2005, many rural communities of the western and central highlands as well as the Pacific Coast of Guatemala were devastated, and their water systems destroyed. In the department of Huehuetenango, the effects of the hurricane were strongest in four municipalities: Cuilco, Tectitán, San Idelfonso Ixtahuacan and San Gaspar Ixil.

Thanks to the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), response to the Hurricane Stan emergency was quick and agile. USAID partner, Project Concern International (PCI) was already working in municipalities of Huehuetenango and so was able to attend a total of 37 communities with relief and reconstruction immediately upon receiving a USAID/OFDA grant. Specifically, the effort that PCI carried out in the affected communities included the restoration of water and sanitation systems, installation a total of 648 new latrines, repair of six temporary shelters, and education of 2,258 families (approximately 12,300 individuals) to in basic health and hygiene.

The grant that USAID/OFDA made to PCI in the amount of $472,192 comes to an end on March 28, 2006. On March 30, USAID will join PCI and local authorities in Cuilco, Huehuetenango to participate in a ceremony to inaugurate the newly rehabilitated water systems and officially “deliver” the systems to the local authorities and community representatives. The mayors of the four municipalities together with representatives of the water boards of the communities will participate in this event. The Governor of Huehuetenango, local health authorities as well as representatives of different institutions working towards the development of Huehuetenango will also accompany USAID and PCI representatives during the official inauguration and closing of the relief and reconstruction effort in Huehuetenango.

 

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The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance through its programs around the world for more than 40 years.