All major, and many minor, roads blocked; gasoline, diesel and propane shortages; commercial food markets closed or empty; occasional violent confrontations with generally peaceful protesters; threats to close the international airport. The results of a political crisis created by efforts to illegally overturn the Guatemalan presidential elections held in August.

It seems that Guatemala rarely makes the international news for anything good. While the story of Guatemala’s current civil strife did garner some world attention initially, it’s now being overwhelmed by the events in the Middle East. I think probably deserves more attention than it is getting.

What happened?

On August 20^th, Dr. Bernardo Arévalo overwhelmingly won the second, run-off, round of the 2023 Guatemalan presidential elections. Winning more than 60% of the national vote he became the president-elect. He is slated to take office on January 14^th, 2024.  

Guatemala has more than twenty recognized national political parties. Each picks its own presidential candidate to run in the first round of presidential elections. If no candidate wins greater than a 50% majority of nationwide votes, a run-off election is held between the top two candidates. The Movimiento Semilla, Arévalo’s political party, is a relative newcomer and was vastly underestimated by the major parties. At the end of the first round, Arévalo had placed second in vote totals and qualified for the run-off.

As a center-left reform politician, Arévalo’s popularity and appearance in the run-off election was something of a surprise to the previous right-wing governing political parties. Having long controlled the national political scene and much of the national press, many observers believe the ruling parties fell victim to believing their own press releases and self-published polling. 

_{(Right: Dr. Bernardo Arévalo, President-Elect of Guatemala)}

Manufacturing a Political Crisis

When the results of the first election were made public, the nine right-wing political parties were shocked. Banding together, they demanded the election be declared fraudulent and took their case to court. They alleged that, six years ago, Semilla submitted fraudulent signatures with their 2017 application to be recognized as a political party. (A flimsy case, impossible to prove, but whose investigation could be made to last months, if not years.) The parties asked for Semilla to be suspended from participating in the final round of elections pending this “investigation”. At first the courts did indeed suspend Semilla, relenting only when the Supreme Court vacated the suspension. Arévalo went on to win in an election that official observers from the United Nations, European Union, Organization of American States and the U.S. called fair and without significant fraud.

After the election the current Attorney General Consuelo Porras and her investigators, upped the ante. Porras ordered police raids of Semilla‘s offices and the National Election Court, illegally seizing documents and ballot boxes in an effort to “prove” that there was voter fraud involved in Arévalo’s election. Porras, reportedly a friend of out-going President Alejandro Giammattei, is currently under U.S. sanctions both for anti-democratic activities and interference in anti-corruption investigations in Guatemala.

The People Take to the Streets

Porras’s raids sparked an immediate political and constitutional crisis. Earlier actions against Arévalo and Semilla had produced many protests and the occasional roadblock. Bloqueos (roadblocks) are an oft used protest tactic in Guatemala and usually only last a day or two. Generally they are a minor inconvenience that generate little notice. This quickly became different.

Activist groups representing the indigenous Maya and Xinka peoples, who make up a large part of the population, banded together with groups representing the poor, calling for a general strike and setting up fourteen Bloqueos around the country in strategic areas. The protests quickly spread, with many other groups and even local government officials joining in. Now there are nearly two hundred such bloqueos, barricading most of the transportation in the country. The general population has been very supportive, either joining in or feeding and otherwise supporting the protesters. Some in our local area have been walking along the road carrying food to the truck drivers who have been stranded along the main highway from Mexico.

Until last night, the protests have all been peaceful. Little violence has occurred and has largely been directed at the protesters by individuals or small groups trying to run the blockades or provoke trouble. I encountered one of those groups yesterday while walking on the road near our offices. Several men on motorcycles had grouped up together with baseball bats, clubs and pieces of lumber, a block or so away from a bloqueo. They were very focused on the bloqueo, but when two National Police pickup trucks arrived, the group immediately turned and rode away together.

The protesters have tried to organize the roadblocks to have minimal impact on emergency services and the poor. Allowed to pass:

• The sick and people with medical appointments
• Health care workers
• Fire, police and military personnel
• Foreigners with flights leaving the country
• Pickup trucks with vegetables and basic grains to feed local populations (only at night)

Because there have been a few instances of the vital services being refused passage, the notice above was sent out via social media again this morning.

The President Speaks

President Alejandro Giammattei appeared on national television last night to address the political crisis. His message was not well received. Refusing to directly address the concerns or demands of the protesters, he blamed the protests instead on unspecified foriegn actors and just a few Guatemalans. Giammattei claimed the the protests were illegal and not supported by most Guatemalans. He threatened the arrest of the protest leaders. Giamatti said that there isn’t a Coup d’état, since Arévalo hasn’t become president yet, but statd he would leave office on January 14th. The president also claimed the protests were NOT nonviolent, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Coincidentally, within minutes of his speech a large group of masked people emerged from the crowds in Guatemala City and began breaking windows, looting, setting fires and even throwing stones at fire engines responding to the scene. They accosted police and protesters alike, injuring at least two police officers and an unknown number of demonstrators. Police responded with tear gas and riot gear. Even the government called the rioters “infiltrators”. They did not attempt to claim they were part of the protest movement.

The leaders of the 48 Cantones indigenous Maya group replied today. They vowed to remain in the streets until the Attorney General resigns or is removed from office, along with her lead investigator and judge. 48 Cantones is one of the major leaders of the protest movement.

How This Crisis Affects AMEDICAusa and What Comes Next

We are not a political or governmental organization and pose no threat, nor have direct ties, to either side. That alone should keep us above the fray and out of any immediate danger.

I, and the other in-country volunteers are fine and secure. We have made provisions for the next few weeks and have plans should the situation deteriorate and become threatening. We remain ready to assist any of our fire department friends in an emergency as needed, and as we can.

Obviously, this has impacted our more routine activities, cancelled meetings, classes, fire station visits and the like. The fuel situation is critical and we are limited to what is currently in our vehicles, so the day to day office and household things are limited to what we can carry while walking. We cook with an eye toward saving the propane available, since supplies are limited. Water is not yet a problem.

As to current and future events, I have no crystal ball. We are located far from Guatemala City in a relatively rural department. The vast majority of the people I come in contact with are very sympathetic to the protesters, participating in the protests or actively helping them. Even the couple of truck drivers we have helped, who are stranded here, are supportive of the protests, though eager to get home. I have not met a single Guatemalan locally is is vehemently opposed to them, though some complain about the inconvenience the bloqueos cause. Should the Government attempt to carry through with the threat of mass arrests and forcibly removing the bloqueos, things could get dicey pretty fast.

That said, there are videos and posts this morning on social media showing Policía Nacional helicopters landing and unloading unspecified cargo to heavily armed officers in Totonicopan, near the offices of 48 Cantones.

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Victim is rescued from Church collapse after Guatemalan earthquake.

Early Morning Earthquake claims at least one life.

Retalhuleu, Guatemala- A violent earthquake collapsed a portion of the Catholic Church in San Sebastian, Retalhuleu, Guatemala  early this morning. 30 year old Juan Francisco Esteban Javier was sleeping inside the church. Though rescued alive from the rubble by firefighters of Retalhuleu’s 11 Compañía CBV,  Javier later died of his injuries at the local hospital. Sadly, the first confirmed fatality in this morning’s severe quake. An elderly woman has reportedly perished of a heart attack resulting from the temblor in nearby Malacatán, San Marcos, Guatemala.

Landslides and Damage to Buildings widespread.

Retalhuleu’s Fire Chief, Salvador Matheu, said that the older Spanish colonial buildings were the worst affected. Firefighters and city officials have been surveying the damage throughout the city.

“There is damage to the Old Cathedral and the Governor’s Palace in the historic Central Square.” said Matheu. “and even some to the Fire Station. Newer buildings haven’t been damaged as much.”

Firefighters prepare to move leaking tank of chlorine gas after earthquake.

A chlorine gas leak at the city’s water treatment plant became the most immediate problem after the rescue. The earthquake had fractured a supply line from the supply tank to the plant causing an uncontrolled release of the deadly gas.  

 

“We don’t have hazardous materials suits, so the best we could do was move the tank as far as we could from the houses nearby, while wearing our firefighting gear.” said the chief.

In the nearby town of Santa Cruz Muluá, a portion of the old Catholic Church collapsed and the municipal building was damaged. Maydi Aguilar, an official of the municipality said “We have reports of houses damaged and collapsed both town and in the villages but, thank god, no injuries reported yet.”

The main highway linking Retalhuleu with Quetzaltenango, two of Guatemala’s largest cities, has been blocked by multiple landslides and a possible tunnel collapse.

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AMEDICAusa  – USAF C-17 Arriving with Firefighting Equipment in Guatemala City

Firefighters Greet Giant Cargo Aircraft on the Tarmac

Guatemala City, Guatemala –  You really have to see a C-17 up close to experience the shear size of the thing. Second in size only to the Air Force’s C-5 Galaxy, the C-17 is capable of carrying enormous amounts of cargo over vast distances. Always a rare sight, this one appearing over Guatemala City is special for another reason. It is carrying a fully equipped fire engine and several tons of Fire and Emergency Medical equipment to the firefighters and paramedics of Guatemala.

The culmination of a year long AMEDICAusa project in cooperation with The REDS Team of North Carolina, and the Denton Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) this flight carried everything from band-aids to fire helmets for multiple Fire Departments and hundreds of Guatemalan firefighters. The supplies and equipment were donated to the effort by fire departments and rescue services from around the U.S. 

We looked like children opening gifts at Christmas! – Chief Salvador Matheu, 11 Compañía CVB, Retalhuleu, Guatemala

 

Fire Crews awaiting the arrival of the Fire Flight from the U.S. – AMEDICAusa

Guatemala has 134 Bomberos Voluntarios and 88 Bomberos Municipales* fire stations spread through the country. Few of these departments – outside of downtown Guatemala City – receive much in the way of governmental funding. These 222 stations serve a population of almost 17 million people spread over 42,000 square miles of difficult terrain. (For comparison, the City of New York has 255  stations covering 8.4 million people in 305 square miles…The State of Pennsylvania has 1852 Fire Stations for 12.8 million people over 46,000 square miles.) All of the stations struggle financially to keep their doors open, and nearly all rely on second (or third) hand equipment, generally from the U.S. or Canada.

Unloading a  fire engine from the C-17 in Guatemala

“I can’t deny that it was a big spectacle to see this huge plane landing and even more when they lowered the fire engine, it looked so tiny coming out of this big plane.” said Chief Matheu who helped AMEDICAusa coordinate the distribution of equipment at the Guatemalan Air Base. 

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Several Fire Departments get New Gear

Fire companies came from all over Guatemala to pick up the equipment allotted to them.  For example, San Pedro 42 Compañía CBM received all new turnout gear – jackets, pants, boots, gloves and helmets – for it’s 40 firefighters. Retalhuleu 11 Compañía CVB received palettes of E.M.S. supplies, a new ambulance stretcher and leather rescue gloves. San Cristóbal, Totonicapán 121 CVB finally got a fire engine, turnouts and SCBA after ten years of trying.

 

Sorting Fire Equipment at the Air Base

“It’s a difficult job.” said AMEDICAusa President Neale Brown. “There is overwhelming need and we get a lot of requests for fire equipment. We work closely with the two national fire organizations as well as with the stations themselves to determine where we donate which equipment. Often it is a question of how we can do the most good for the most people with what limited resources we have.” 

 

“Training is a big component of the program.” said Brown. “We have to ensure that the department receiving the equipment is well trained in its use, to make sure it is used safely and effectively. Some firefighting and rescue equipment can be particularly dangerous to operate. Before we donate such tools to a department we make sure that they have, or will, train with us in its use.”

AMEDICAusa runs an annual fire/rescue school in Guatemala.

Relationships with USAID and Other Agencies are Pivotal.

“Our programs would be much more difficult, much more expensive, and much less effective were it not for USAID, our donor departments and our NGO partners.” said Brown.

“Transportation costs alone would eat up most of our budget if we didn’t have Denton Program support.  Many people think that programs like ours are paid for by the government as part of a largely mythical foreign aid budget. The reality is that the U.S. budgets less than 1% annually for it’s foreign aid programs, and most of that is in the areas of security and defense. A tiny fraction goes to humanitarian aid world wide. It worries us, and other non-profits, when we start hearing all the ‘America First’ talk.  We depend on the equipment donations of U.S. fire and rescue departments and on the transportation afforded by the Denton program. I am heartened by the description that one U.S. Embassy staffer offered, that we are the best ‘good bang for the buck’ in terms of costs for humanitarian programs. “

The Denton Program offers NGO’s the opportunity to use military shipping at no cost . If there is space available on an aircraft or surface ship that is going to the desired country anyway, approved humanitarian aid can be used to fill that empty space. The bureaucratic process is generally slow, complicated and difficult, but is often worth the trouble for NGO’s like AMEDICAusa.

Get Involved!

There is an opportunity to help us with our next firefighting supply and training missions in Guatemala. The next fire engine is almost ready to go, but we always need more equipment, and cash donations to help with costs. Interested in being a Fire/Rescue instructor?  Contact Us.

“FIRE FLIGHT” Air Force crew with AMEDICAusa and Firefighters in Guatemala

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

We are always looking for volunteers who wish to help in Guatemala. Get the details here.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

*There are two different and separate national firefighting organizations in Guatemala. Bomberos Voluntarios or CVB (Volunteer Firefighters) and Bomberos Municipales or CBM (Municipal Firefighters) . Despite the names, both organizations have career and volunteer members and a very similar rank and organizational structure. The chief difference is in how they originate, whether organized initially by a Mayor (CBM) or by a private citizens committee (CVB).  They are somewhat competitive, and sometimes duplicate services within a single area.

The post A Really BIG Bird Lands in Guatemala appeared first on AMEDICAusa.

AMEDICAusa President Neale Brown receives the Monja Blanca Medal from Guatemala Minister of Defense, Maj. Gen. Williams Mansilla Fernandez.

AMEDICAusa Receives Guatemala’s Highest Civilian Award  

GUATEMALA CITY–  The Monja Blanca Medal was presented today to AMEDICAusa President Neale Brown. The award ceremony followed the conclusion of the organization’s annual FIre and Rescue Training School in Guatemala. The week long school brings together both firefighters and military rescue specialists from around the country to train in fire and rescue techniques. Provided in partnership with North Carolina’s REDS Team, the program enjoys wide support from both the military and fire service communities.

The medal, named for the national flower of Guatemala, is also a prestigious military decoration within the armed forces. It is awarded to those who provide exceptional humanitarian service to the people of Guatemala. Previous recipients have included Mexico’s Special Technical Rescue Team, members of CONRED (the Guatemalan Disaster Relief agency) and Officers of the military’s Unidad Humanitaria y Rescate (UHR) technical rescue team.

AMEDICAusa was recognized for their work in medical care, education, and disaster relief and training throughout Guatemala. Both Neale Brown and the Members of the REDS Team also received individual awards and certificates from the Ministry of Defense in recognition of their efforts on behalf of the people of Guatemala.

Neale Brown instructing firefighters in Guatemala (REDS Team Photo)

 

Humbled and Proud of Award

“This was a complete surprise and I am humbled by the award.” said Brown. ” I knew nothing about it until the ceremony had begun. I am, of course, proud of the work we do and all of the donors and volunteers who make it possible. Without the people who make it all work, like the REDS Team, we would not be able to accomplish what we have. Our job now is to continue to earn the honor every day.”

AMEDICAusa provides aid in three main areas. Besides working with the firefighters of Guatemala as part of their disaster relief efforts, they also work to provide medical care and educational support to the poor and indigenous peoples of the country. For the week after the ceremony, Brown and AMEDICAusa volunteers travelled to several different locations in Guatemala, distributing donated equipment and meeting with a variety of local officials.

Silvana Ayuso receives Monja Blanca Award

This is the second time that members of AMEDICAusa have been recognized by Guatemala for their efforts. AMEDICAusa Vice President, Silvana Ayuso, also received the award of the Monja Blanca in 2015 for her long and continued work on behalf of the people of Guatemala.

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

We are always looking for volunteers who wish to help in Guatemala. Get the details here.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

The post AMEDICAusa Receives Guatemalan Humanitarian Award appeared first on AMEDICAusa.

Joint Project of Swiss NGO and AMEDICAusa, Inc.
takes equipment to Santa Cruz Muluá, Guatemala

A Swiss non-profit, Ambulance4Guatemala, and AMEDICAusa, a non-profit headquartered in Frederick, Maryland have teamed up in an effort to provide donated emergency equipment and supplies to firefighters in Guatemala. A used ambulance, stocked with medical supplies, is now on its way to the small city of Santa Cruz Muluá in western Guatemala where it will serve two different municipalities and the small villages that surround them. About 30,000 families or roughly 100,000 people live in the area, most are impoverished.

 

AMBULANCE4GUATEMALA in New Jersey with unit bound for Guatemala

The Swiss group, Sara Berhend, an attorney, Dr. Claudine Moser, an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and Pierre Martin are delivering the ambulance by driving it over 3000 miles to Guatemala. They raised most of the money for the purchase of the ambulance and travel expenses from private donors in Europe and combined efforts with AMEDICAusa who works closely with Guatemala’s fire services to provide equipment and training throughout the country.

Medical Supplies loaded onto the ambulance at AMEDICAusa in Frederick, Maryland

AMEDICAusa provided additional funds for the purchase of the ambulance, filled it with donated medical supplies, and provided technical expertise as well as assistance in selecting the recipient departments in Guatemala.

The Swiss team travelled from Zürich to New Jersey where they picked up the ambulance and began their travels, first to Frederick, Maryland. There they loaded the vehicle with emergency medical equipment and supplies at AMEDICAusa’s headquarters, then continued their journey toward Guatemala. They expect to arrive in Guatemala before August 20th.

Ambulance and team continue on their way to Guatemala

Ambulance donation enables unique solution for two cities

“There are two cities involved here,” said Neale Brown, President of AMEDICAusa. “One, Santa Cruz Muluá, had a small Fire Department already in service and some experience with running an ambulance. Unfortunately, their old ambulance has broken down leaving them with nothing. The neighboring city, San Felipe, had previously approached AMEDICAusa about starting a Fire Department in their municipality, but are just now starting the construction of their Fire Station, and they are not ready for the equipment yet.” Neither department had yet acquired a fire engine and depend on bucket brigades and help from distant cities for fire protection.

AMEDICAusa with city and fire dept. officials in Santa Cruz Muluá, Guatemala

“When the question came up about who should get the ambulance, we saw an opportunity to broker a deal with the two cities to enable us to serve a great many more people.” Said Brown, who has just returned from a series of meetings in Guatemala.

“We had already committed to assisting San Felipe with starting a fire department and had acquired a fire engine for them. Our initial thought was that the ambulance would go there as well. The problem was that the station is not yet built nor have they hired the firefighters and medics to staff it. We really didn’t want the ambulance to sit in the elements unused in the interim. While visiting the area, we became aware that Muluá had the opposite problem. They had the firefighters and a small station, but no ambulance.

The Church at San Felipe, Guatemala

So, we met with the Mayors and Fire Chiefs, and arrived at a solution. The ambulance will go to Muluá, and they will use it to respond to both cities, beginning immediately. When the fire engine is ready, it and the accompanying rescue equipment will go to San Felipe, who will in turn cover Muluá.

Fire Engine for being readied for donation to San Felipe, Guatemala

AMEDICAusa will be providing joint training to both departments as well, so they can work together effectively.”

While such “mutual aid” agreements are fairly commonplace within the United States, they are rare in Central America.

The post Ambulance and Medical Supplies Headed to Firefighters in Guatemala appeared first on AMEDICAusa.

Residents and Agencies Warned of Imminent Ashfall

Two very large explosions  at Guatemala’s Santiaguito Volcano have caused the government agencies to issue warnings in southwestern Guatemala.

The latest, occurring this morning at 5:12 local time,  threw ballistic bombs for over a mile, an ash cloud over 16,000 feet high and caused pyroclastic flows to rumble down the mountainsides.

(INSIVUMEH photo)

A Pyroclastic flow is a collapsing, high-density mix of hot lava blocks, pumice, ash and volcanic gas. They move at very high speed down volcanic slopes, at up to 450 miles an hour. One such event buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

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Friday, a similar, somewhat smaller explosion rocked the mountain.

Volcano Warnings for Ash and More Explosions.

INSIVUMEH, the government scientific agency charged with monitoring volcanic activity throughout the country, issued a warning for significant ashfall for 20-25 miles south and west of the mountain, with the advisory that fine ash could drift much farther. They also noted that additional explosions and activity are likely with a possibility of explosions much greater is size. Aircraft have been warned away from the area.

Friday explosion at Santiaguito

Volcanic ash can range from fine dust particles to gravel and poses significant health risks when inhaled. Volcanic ash is heavy, and significant ashfall can cause roof and structural collapse. When wet, such as from Guatemala’s recent heavy rains, it has the consistency and weight of wet concrete and can cause massive landslides.

Several of these volcanic landslides, called Lahars, have occurred in Guatemala over the last week, both at Santiaguito and Volcán Fuego another of the country’s three erupting volcanos.

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The warnings include the villages of San Marcos and Loma Linda, Palajunoj, Finca El Faro, Patzulin, El Patrocinio, and the populations of El Palmar, San Felipe, Las Marías and others in this area. It is likely to drop Ash on Mazatenango and its municipalities.

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

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Tzununá, Sololá, Guatemala

 168 people left homeless and more than 28 structures damaged by landslide in a small Guatemalan village.

The landslide occurred in the Patuyá section of Tzununá, where authorities are setting up two  emergency shelters to house the affected people, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) reported. (CONRED is the Guatemalan equivalent of FEMA in the United States.)

Cristian Rodriguez, CONRED spokesperson, reported that at least 28 families are affected and they are coordinating with other officials to transfer them to a shelter.

(photo: Prensa Libre / CONRED)

 

“The houses were flooded by mud and stones that broke off from the mountain. Those affected are going to be moved because they are cut off and there is continued danger of further slides.” added Rodriguez.

AMEDICAusa Vice President Silvana Ayuso is in Guatemala and has been in contact with CONRED and Military officials at the scene and reported that emergency supplies are already enroute to the area.

“We are preparing to send emergency food supplies and clothing right now.” said Ayuso. ” This is happening in other places in Guatemala, and there is a significant danger of a much larger landslide happening anywhere right now… We must be ready.”

In the Department of Quetzaltenango on July 12th, a landslide killed a 61 year old man, despite efforts by the local firefighters to revive him.

Another slide was reported in the Department of Alta Verapaz last night.

 

Last October a catastrophic landslide buried the village of El Cambray Dos, outside Guatemala City, killing an estimated 350 people,  many of whom were never recovered.

 

 

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Municipal Orange Alert to be declared in Santa Cruz La Laguna.

In order to expedite assistance for affected families and help prevent further damage or injuries, the Mayor of the Municipality is expected to make the declaration today.

 

Current Guatemala Landslide Danger Map – Areas in red are at the highest risk (CONRED)

According to information provided by  CONRED, soils in the western areas of Guatemala are over-saturated with the recent heavy rains, conditions which facilitate landslides. More Rain and thunderstorms are expected today.

In addition, officials are concerned with the possibility of Lahars, volcanic mudflows of ash, rocks and rainwater, that can be literally boiling hot and have the consistency (and mass) of wet concrete. A Lahar occurred on June 13th from the slopes of Santiaguito, one of three currently erupting volcanoes in Guatemala.

 Video of Tzununa Landslide

  Video of flooding in Jerez, Jutiapa.

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

 

 

 

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