Guatemala: Monitoring the Humanitarian Response - Bulletin n° 3 | September - December 2023
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Update on Guatemala's Humanitarian Situation
From September to December, humanitarian needs in Guatemala have risen.
Data from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPAS in Spanish) shows that, in epidemiological week 50 (December 10-16, 2023), acute malnutrition cases in children under 5 increased by 26 per cent compared to 2022.
Severe malnutrition rose by 16 per cent, resulting in 54 deaths.
The Acute Food Insecurity Analysis of Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reveals that about 3.1 million people face crisis or emergency levels of acute food insecurity, influenced by dwindling grain reserves, seasonal grain increases, and El Niño.
The protection sector is focusing on the municipality of Esquipulas,
Chiquimula department, responding to the needs of migrants and people on the move. The Guatemalan Institute of Migration noted a surge in refugee status applications, with 411 new applicants and 152 in November alone – the highest in three years.
Sectorial Response Actions
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
The WASH sector is responding to the increase of people on the move in the municipality of Esquipulas though the following activities:
At San José Migrant House the sector distributed 11,544 differentiated kits to adults and 10,508 to boys, girls and teenagers, and provided safe water, showers, and sanitation.
At the Center for Attention to Migrants and Refugees (CAPMiR in Spanish) in Agua Caliente, the sector delivered 1,219 dignity kits to adults and 1,062 to boys, girls and teenagers, along with water bottles to ensure access to safe water and sanitation.
Overall, these efforts benefited 25,828 people, including 5,869 women, 12,010 children, and 7,858 men.
Nutrition
The Ministry of Health's National Food and Nutritional Security Information System (SIINSAN in Spanish) reported 25,537 cases of acute malnutrition in children under 5 for epidemiological week 50 (December 10-16, 2023). This marks a 26 per cent increase over 2022, equating to 5,152 additional cases. Of these cases, 21per cent are severe, showing a 16 per cent rise in severe malnutrition with signs like Kwashiorkor or Marasmo. By week 50, there were 54 deaths due to acute malnutrition recorded, including 10 each in Alta Verapaz and Huehuetenango.