Saturday, June 23, 2007
The story.....
October 5, 2005. The Village of Panabaj, Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala.
Early in the morning, after days of rain caused by hurricane Stan, a flood and mudslide occurred. Around 150 houses were completely buried by the mud and heavy stones, others were dragged by the flood and several were damaged or destroyed.
Because the tragedy happened so early and it all happened fast the majority of the population could not be evacuated and was buried under the mud or taken by the flood. Between 4,000-5,000 people were damnified. The place was considered a mass graveyard, and the bodies could not be recovered. Until the past year the governement started recovering them, 100 death have had a proper burial, but still are around 600 people missing. More than 600 families have been placed in refugee camps or with relatives.
Many families have been destroyed and phsycologically affected. There are about 25 horphan kids, around 100 kids have lost their mother of father, and there are 77 widows.
"My wife gave birth that night. Her, the baby and the midwife were gone with the flood, I had time to take my two daughters out, but I saw the rest of my family disappear in front of me and couldn't do anything" Cruz. (A hardworking man from Panabaj, he lost part of his family and all their belongings)
This community was not only affected by hurricane Stan, but also suffered atrocities during the civil war in Guatemala. Around 300,000 people died in all the country, but between 1982-1996 Santiago was a war zone, witnessing the death of innocent men, women and children everyday. This is an area that had suffered much, and that is still living in poverty.
I'm creating this blog primarily to help this community, I am a Photographer from Guatemala, currently in New York. I visited home this year and had the opportunity to see the village of Panabaj. When I first walked in the refugee camp I felt knot in my throat, I couldn't believe the conditions this families were living in. Around 350-400 families live in this place, with houses made of plastic, 1.5 years after the tragedy and it seems it was yesterday. I was really touched, specially to see all this kids around, what hope they have? You look in their eyes and you can see right away they had it tough. I had the opportunity to meet with the person in charge of the private foundation helping them, without this foundation I think these people would have almost nothing.
Fundacion La Semilla, was born after this tragedy, is located in Santiago Atitlan and it is bringing help through some private funding. Fundacion La Semilla is helping bringing them food, education, clothing, creating a source of income and jobs to help recover. They also have plans to build housing for the families that are still living in the refugee camps in unhuman conditions. Unfortunately the funds they have are not enough to bring relief to all the families.
Currently the governement is building a few houses for some of the victims, but it is not enough for all.
If you donate to this site, everything will go to Fundacion la Semilla to help them with their efforts. Funds would help with food, clothing, housing, education and creating jobs to help these people overcome their tragedies.
There is much need in this world, but we can help little by little....
For any questions write to Gabriela Martinez mgbenecke@yahoo.com
Fundacion la Semilla www.fundacionlasemilla.net (website in spanish)
Early in the morning, after days of rain caused by hurricane Stan, a flood and mudslide occurred. Around 150 houses were completely buried by the mud and heavy stones, others were dragged by the flood and several were damaged or destroyed.
Because the tragedy happened so early and it all happened fast the majority of the population could not be evacuated and was buried under the mud or taken by the flood. Between 4,000-5,000 people were damnified. The place was considered a mass graveyard, and the bodies could not be recovered. Until the past year the governement started recovering them, 100 death have had a proper burial, but still are around 600 people missing. More than 600 families have been placed in refugee camps or with relatives.
Many families have been destroyed and phsycologically affected. There are about 25 horphan kids, around 100 kids have lost their mother of father, and there are 77 widows.
"My wife gave birth that night. Her, the baby and the midwife were gone with the flood, I had time to take my two daughters out, but I saw the rest of my family disappear in front of me and couldn't do anything" Cruz. (A hardworking man from Panabaj, he lost part of his family and all their belongings)
This community was not only affected by hurricane Stan, but also suffered atrocities during the civil war in Guatemala. Around 300,000 people died in all the country, but between 1982-1996 Santiago was a war zone, witnessing the death of innocent men, women and children everyday. This is an area that had suffered much, and that is still living in poverty.
I'm creating this blog primarily to help this community, I am a Photographer from Guatemala, currently in New York. I visited home this year and had the opportunity to see the village of Panabaj. When I first walked in the refugee camp I felt knot in my throat, I couldn't believe the conditions this families were living in. Around 350-400 families live in this place, with houses made of plastic, 1.5 years after the tragedy and it seems it was yesterday. I was really touched, specially to see all this kids around, what hope they have? You look in their eyes and you can see right away they had it tough. I had the opportunity to meet with the person in charge of the private foundation helping them, without this foundation I think these people would have almost nothing.
Fundacion La Semilla, was born after this tragedy, is located in Santiago Atitlan and it is bringing help through some private funding. Fundacion La Semilla is helping bringing them food, education, clothing, creating a source of income and jobs to help recover. They also have plans to build housing for the families that are still living in the refugee camps in unhuman conditions. Unfortunately the funds they have are not enough to bring relief to all the families.
Currently the governement is building a few houses for some of the victims, but it is not enough for all.
If you donate to this site, everything will go to Fundacion la Semilla to help them with their efforts. Funds would help with food, clothing, housing, education and creating jobs to help these people overcome their tragedies.
There is much need in this world, but we can help little by little....
For any questions write to Gabriela Martinez mgbenecke@yahoo.com
Fundacion la Semilla www.fundacionlasemilla.net (website in spanish)
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