Tropical storm Agatha hit the coast of Guatemala last Saturday (May 29th), bursting riverbanks and burying homes beneath landslides and mudslides.

Rescue workers, including ActionAid employees and partners, have been working round the clock to evacuate vulnerable people, restore communications and reach cut-off areas with supplies.

Though the storm has now dissipated, more heavy rain is expected, and with 155,000 people evacuated and 29,000 living in shelters, help is urgently needed.

What is ActionAid doing now?

Over the weekend, ActionAid partners were involved with the relief effort helping vulnerable families to leave areas under threat.

Now we are seeking to provide shelter, food, medicines and safe drinking water for families who have been forced to leave their homes.

ActionAid always aims to do more than simply provide emergency relief. Our assessment teams are already exploring the long-term needs of people in the area. Destroyed farmland mean that people will need seeds and tools to restore their livelihoods as soon as possible.

Have have sponsored children been affected?

So far, we do not believe that any children sponsored by our UK supporters have been affected. We will confirm this as soon as possible. In the meantime. the priority remains providing help, support and vital supplies to those who need them most.