Emergency appeal for Guatemala

WEST Kerry-based charity Hope Guatemala is appealing for urgent help to provide a lifeline to Mayan families in who are severely hit by the coronavirus outbreak in the Central American country.

The pandemic has dealt a cruel blow to indigenous Mayans who earn barely enough from casual labour to survive in normal times. However, because of Covid-19 restrictions all casual labour is banned in Guatemala, there is no government safety net and people are increasingly struggling to find food.

The situation is so desparate, that in many parts of Guatemala women stand at the roadsides with their children waving white flags to signal humanitarian organisations that they are in dire need of food.

Hunger and lack of sanitation are a deadly cocktail for impoverished communities, all this against the backdrop of rising coronavirus cases. On June 9 Guatemala recorded its largest number of cases and it is still on the upward side of the curve.

The approach from Hope Guatemala is twofold: Firstly supplying food – a €40 donation will help feed a family of five reasonably for five weeks. Secondly, hygiene kits which give a family the means to protect themselves during the pandemic, also costing €40.

Donations can be made via the hopeguatemala.org website.

Shops in West Kerry are also supporting the emergency fund by selling washable face masks that have been donated by Hope Guatemala’s partner charity in Germany, The masks are on sale in Dingle in Bean in Dingle, The Dingle Health Food Shop, Walsh’s Pharmacy, Ventry Post Office and in McGillicuddy’s Toys in Listowel. They cost €5 each and as with all of the money raised by Hope Guatemala, it goes directly to supporting struggling Mayan communities.