|
Dear Friends,
Once again, Guatemala is having a devastating rainy season, with several deaths caused by flooding and mudslides in the past few days. The soil in most of the country is saturated and the rain shows no signs of letting up.
Many scientists think the overly abundant rain in Central America can be blamed on climate change. According to a recent Oxfam report, the hunger situation is getting worse in Guatemala due to climate change. Rural Guatemalans rely on the corn, beans and other crops they grow in small plots ot feed their families. However, because of the excessive rains last year many small farmers lost their crops and some communities are highly likely to lose them again this year.
Guatemala’s earthquake-prone location, mountainous terrain and frequent tropical storms make the country particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. Our staff is keeping an eye on the situation in the rural villages we work with and will help provide humanitarian aid as it becomes necessary.
We continue working to build water systems and latrines, as well as helping villages stretch their limited resources and reduce their dependency on corn by diversifying their crops. Our programs are made possible through partnerships with local governments and rural Guatemalan families and with the concern and support of you, our friends and donors.
We are gearing up to assist the communities most affected by the rains and to continue strengthening their ability to feed their families everywhere we work and we do need your help. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation online, click here or send a check payable to Behrhorst Partners for Development, 2411 S. Superior St., Milwaukee, WI 53207.
Thank-you for your generous support!
Best regards,
Victoria Ward
Chair, BPD
To learn about the struggle on one family living in El Durazno, click here or visit our web site at Behrhorst.org. Here’s a link to a recent BBD slide show with photos of the rain damage in Guatemala.
|
