Guatemala and Honduras: Médecins Sans Frontières assists people affected by torrential rains

Following the tropical depression which caused flooding and damage in several departments of Guatemala’s Pacific coast in mid-October, Médecins Sans Frontières is distributing relief items to affected populations in 13 communities of the Nueva Concepción municipality. This area, located in the southern department of Escuintla, is the most affected, where some 5,000 people have not yet been assisted.

"The most urgent food and medical needs have been covered locally," said Stefano Zannini, Médecins Sans Frontières’ emergency coordinator. "However, we will distribute blankets, mattresses and hygiene kits to improve the living conditions of some 1,000 families living in remote areas. Some of them are still displaced, while others were able to return to their homes, but in some cases people have lost everything," said the emergency coordinator. “It is important to prevent an increase in respiratory infections and other diseases related to poor sanitation."

In Honduras, where torrential rains have affected thousands of people, Médecins Sans Frontières has deployed a mobile clinic and offered more than 140 medical consultations to the Marcovia communities in the southern department of Choluteca. An assessment of the health and medical needs has shown that the health system has quickly responded and that patients have free access to primary health care. Médecins Sans Frontières is thus focusing on the epidemiological surveillance of infectious diseases, such as dengue, malaria and leptospirosis, and on the disinfection of 20 contaminated wells identified in the area. The organisation will also conduct a mass distribution of doxycycline to support health centers in the prevention of leptospirosis, which is endemic in the region.

Médecins Sans Frontières has been working in Guatemala since 1984 in various projects. The organisation currently provides medical, psychological and social assistance to victims of sexual violence in Guatemala City. Médecins Sans Frontières has worked in Honduras since 1974. In the capital city, Tegucigalpa, teams are currently providing medical services to the most vulnerable population, victims of violence. Given the frequency of natural disasters in Central America, Médecins Sans Frontières is ready to provide emergency assistance to disaster victims in the region and maintains an emergency team based in Panama.