Charities Respond to Quake on Mexico's Border Alan Cole - Xperedon
go to original November 8, 2012

The worst affected region was San Marcos, near the border with Mexico. (BBC News)

Emergency relief workers are responding following the impact of a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that has left dozens of people dead and destroyed mountain villages in Guatemala.

Over 70,000 people are without electricity following the quake that was also felt in Mexico and El Salvador. At least 48 are believed dead with more than a hundred people injured and dozens missing.

The earthquake struck yesterday in the South West of the country, near the Pacific coast near Champerico port not far from the Mexican border.

US based charity, Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF), was one of the first international relief charities to respond and is providing relief supplies via its Mercy Network in Guatemala.

One of the charity's partners in Guatemala said: “We ask for your prayers not only for Guatemala, but also for El Salvador and Mexico which have been also affected...” The charity has launched a disaster relief fund for victims of the quake.

Plan International are another relief charity already helping people on the ground in Guatemala, and say relief efforts are currently focusing on priorities such as help for those in shelters, and especially the needs of children affected by the disaster.

The Red Cross are also one of the main relief agencies responding, supporting government agencies that are clearing blocked roads and implementing rescue and emergency response plans.

Red Cross volunteers' responce occurs despite the NGO’s network of resources being stretched considerably at the moment due to relief work in the Caribbean and the USA following Hurricane Sandy. However, the charity already has relief workers, medical and emergency equipment deployed.

The quake struck yesterday morning 163 km South West of Guatemala City, leaving homes and public buildings destroyed resulting in mass evacuations.

Restoring power and water services, responding to the needs of the injured, implementing search and rescue for missing persons, providing emergency shelter, counselling, food and health supplies are some of the urgent priorities for rescue workers.

Various UN and international relief NGOs are already involved in the emergency response to the quake that has left people cut off by rubble and landslides.

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!