The eruption of the Fuego volcano on June 3, 2018, caused substantial soul searching, both nationally and internationally. The loss of human life and the destruction of infrastructure and economic production sparked debates and raised questions regarding the capacities available in Guatemala to manage disaster risk and disasters associated with volcanic activity in general and on that day specifically.
... See More + The entire process, from risk knowledge and analysis, to warning and evacuation, to risk reduction and reconstruction, was subject to examination by public institutions, productive sectors, scientific organizations and affected communities. What portion of the damage and human loss were avoidable and what part was almost the ‘natural’ result of this explosive and sudden type of event? The eruption of the Volcano of Fire evidenced needs in knowledge of risk and scientific monitoring, in education and the participation of communities, in the organization and logistics of preparation and response and, more generally, in the processes of territorial adaptation and planning when faced with volcanic processes. The case of the Volcano of Fire is that of an extremely active volcano, with activity cycles and patterns still little understood by experts and with limited historically recorded direct human impacts. The present document provides an analysis of the Fuego volcano disaster applying a Forensic Investigation of Disasters methodology (FORIN), an initiative of the International Council of Science (now International Science Council) (ICSU), and its Integrated Research on Disaster Risk Program (IRDR). This method allows us to focus on the socio-economic, cultural and political root causes of disaster risk and disaster through comparative, longitudinal or contemporary research. This includes contrasting the differentiated impact of similar events in different areas; disasters suffered in the same geographical area but at different points in time; or comparison between countries that have suffered similar events at similar times, but with different underlying conditions and social responses.
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Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions Ltd. (GDG) was requested by The World Bank (TWB) to carry out a study about Volcan de Fuego (Guatemala) after the extraordinary eruption that took place on June 3rd, 2018.
... See More + That eruption lasted about 17 hours and ejected an eruptive column that reached an altitude up to 6 km. Trade winds pulled the finest ashes westwards for more than 40 km. The coarser fraction of the eruptive columns collapsed mainly onto the southeast flank of the volcano where some of the existing gullies vehiculed downstream a high magnitude pyroclastic flow (a high speed turbulent avalanche of hot rock material of different sizes and gas) causing important damages in a golf course residential area, a small urban settlement, a bridge and a road. According to SE-CONRED updated report, 156 people died, 268 disappeared, and 186 houses were destroyed. The Government declared the ‘State of Calamity’ in three departments: Chimaltenango, Escuintla y Sacatepéquez. Congress endorsed the declaration which will allow the Government to use up to US dollar 25 million. The eruption already is Guatemala's deadliest event since 1902, when an eruption of the Santa Maria volcano killed thousands of people. This report is provided under the Addendum 1 to the existing project Landslide Hazard and Risk Study Pilot Study for the Mancomunidad Gran Ciudad del Sur in Guatemala. The scope of the work of the addendum is separate to the scope of work of the original project.
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Natural events are recurrent. Geophysical hazards such as earthquakes or volcano eruptions cannot be predicted, but it is known that where they have happened in the past, they will happen again.
... See More + In the case of hydro-meteorological hazards, frequency and intensity are increased by the action of climate change. Guatemala is located in one of the most hazard prone regions, threatened by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, fires, hurricanes, and floods. Additionally, other hazards such as fires usually affect ancient structures, becoming one of the main hazards to specific cultural heritage assets. However, natural hazards only lead to disasters when its effects negatively affect human life, and the consequences depend on the vulnerability of the assets and population exposed to these hazards. The concept and practice of Disaster Risk Management (DRM), understood as a safe development strategy, has evolved during the last decades from an approach focused almost exclusively on disaster response, towards a broader approach focused on risk understanding, prevention, and reduction, without demeriting the importance of having strong preparation and response systems. However, other priorities generally relegate cultural heritage in the agenda of local and national governments, and disaster risk plans do not include heritage, leaving at risk areas, buildings or other assets of high historical value. In this regard, conducting risk assessments and establishing risk mitigation and emergency preparedness measures is fundamental. In case of emergency the priority is always to save lives, but in a second moment, acting quickly on cultural heritage is essential to preserve legacies that could otherwise be lost forever.
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Volcán de Fuego is considered to be one of Central America's most active volcanoes. It is situated eighteen kilometers south west from Central America's former colonial capital and present main tourist destination of Antigua Guatemala (a UNESCO world heritage site) and forty kilometers south west of Guatemala city.
... See More + It is the most active of Guatemala's thirty-four volcanoes. Following the Volcán de Fuego eruption on June 3, 2018, a rapid post-disaster damage assessment, following the GRADE methodology was undertaken. The objective was to estimate the economic damages caused by the event and understand the spatial distribution of damage to support the process of developing a road-map for reconstruction and recovery. The analysis provides an independent view of the actual degree of damage across the affected area. The key economic impact findings and risk implications are summarized in this report.
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The development objective of the Crecer Sano : Guatemala Nutrition and Health Project for Guatemala is to improve selected practices, services and behaviors known to be keydeterminants of chronic malnutrition (with an emphasis on the first 1,000 days of life) in the intervention areas.The restructuring request proposed the following changes: (i) Implementing Agency; (ii) Results Framework; (iii) Loan Closing Date; (iv) Disbursement Arrangements; (v) Disbursement Estimates; (vi) Legal Covenants and Effectiveness Conditions; (vii) Legal Covenants and Effectiveness Conditions; (viii) Financial Management and Procurement; and (ix) Implementation Schedule
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The Second Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan operation is a stand-alone US dollar 200 million Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan (DPL) with a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (CAT DDO).
... See More + It supports the efforts of the Government of Guatemala (GoG) to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA), and to quickly mobilize resources in the aftermath of disasters in the country. This operation would be the second CA DDO in the country, it builds on the success and lessons learned from the first DPL with CAT-DDO disbursed in 2010. Guatemala is among the countries most affected by climate events and geophysical hazards. Located on the Ring of Fire between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the country is frequently affected by earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions. Guatemala ranks Eleventh in the world among the countries most affected by climate-related events such as floods, hurricanes, and extreme weather. Recurrent droughts related to El Niño in the Dry Corridor endanger crops, livestock, and food security. Rapid urbanization and climate change further increase disaster risk in the country. As a result, vulnerable households may only be one disaster away from falling below the poverty line or sliding further back into poverty. Recognizing the need to enhance the country's policy and institutional framework in the areas of DRM and CCA, the GoG requested the proposed operation. The operation will support the modernization of Guatemala’s legal and institutional framework to manage disasters and climate risks; and increase the Government’s capacity to quickly mobilize resources in the aftermath of natural disasters. The operation reflects lessons learned from Guatemala’s active participation in regional disaster risk management initiatives, the use of the first CAT DDO, and the experience with the most recent disaster, the El Fuego volcano eruption (2018), for which, in the absence of any other financial instrument, Congress fast tracked the approval of the World Bank-financed First Programmatic Improved Governance of Public Resources and Nutrition Development Policy Financing (US dollar 250 million) to address the liquidity shortage. The operation can also be activated to provide timely liquidity in the case of health-related emergencies.
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