Guatemala

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1 HFA National Reports
2 HFA National Platform:
3 HFA National Focal Point:
4 Other contacts
5 Country Profile:
- 5.1 Institutional Level:
6 Climate change
7 Progress towards the implementation of the HFA
8 Other Documents
9 Web Links:

HFA National Reports

National Report 2008 / HFA Monitor Online Report: Submitted

National Report 2007: National Report on the Implementation of the HFA (2007) - Guatemala (Spanish)

National Report 2006: no reported

National Report 2005: no reported

National Report 2004: National Report in Preparation for WCDR (2004) – Guatemala

HFA National Platform:

No National Platform reported

HFA National Focal Point:

Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres (CONRED)

Address: Av.Hincapié 21-72, Zona 13, Ciudad de Guatemala

Phone:+(502) 2332-1189/3854-1411 / fax: (+502) 3326716

E-mail: informacion@conred.org.gt

Website: http://www.conred.org/

HFA Contact person:

Ing. Alejandro Maldonado, Executive Secretary (as of January 22, 2008)

Tel: (+502) 2385/4144 ext. 1101 / Fax: (+502) 2362/8361

E-mail: amaldonado@conred.org.gt

Assistant to Mr. Maldonado: Ada Paz

Email: apaz@conred.org.gt

Technical Focal Point:

Lic. Angela Leal, Directora de la Dirección de Gestión Integral de Riesgo

aleal@conred.org.gt

Assistant to Ms. Leal:

Evelyn Cabrera Fuegos

efuegos@condred.org.gt

Other contacts

Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the United Nations in Geneva

Chief:

His Excellency Mr. Carlos Ramiro Martínez Alvarado

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Permanent Representative

Address: Chemin de Sous-Bois 21, 1202 Geneva

Tel: +(41-22) 734-55 73, Fax: +(41-22) 733-1429

Email: mission.guatemala@ties.itu.int

UN System Coordination

UNDG: UNCT Guatemala

UN Resident Coordinador

Mr. Beat Rohr

UN Resident Coordinador / UNDP Resident Representative

Address: Edificio Europlaza World Business Centre, 5 Avenida 5-55, Zona 14, Torre IV, Nivel 10, 01010 Ciudad de Guatemala - Guatemala

Phone: (+502) 2384-3100, Fax: (+502) 2384-3200/3201

E-mail: beat.rohr@undp.org, registry.gt@undp.org

URL: http://www.pnud.org.gt

UNDP

Mr. Juan Pablo Corlazzoli

Address: Edificio Europlaza World Business Centre, 5 Avenida 5-55, Zona 14, Torre IV, Nivel 10, 01010 Ciudad de Guatemala

Tel: 00(502) 2384-3100, Fax: 00(502) 2384-3200/3201

E-mail: registry.gt@undp.org

URL: http://www.pnud.org.gt

PAHO/WHO Field Office

Contact person: Dr. Joaquín Molina, PAHO/WHO Representative

Address: Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana, Edificio Etisa, Plazuela España,7a. Avenida 12-23, Zona 9, Guatemala, Guatemala / Apartado Postal 383, Guatemala, Guatemala

Phone: (+502) 2332-2032/2334-3803/2331-0583 / Fax: 2334-3804

E-mail: e-mail@gut.ops-oms.org

Website: www.ops.org.gt

Guatemalan Red Cross

Address: 3era. Calle 8-40, Zona 1, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Phone: 502 232-2026 / 253-2027/28 / Fax: 502 232-4649

E-mail: crg@guate.net

Website: http://www.guatemala.cruzroja.org/

European Commission, Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO)

Address: 13 avenida, 13-38, Zona 10, Oakland, Guatemala

Phone: (+502) 366-9050 / Fax (+502) 366-9080

E-mail: echoca@guate.net

Website: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm

Coordination Centre for the prevention of natural disasters in Central America (CEPREDENAC)

Address: Avenida Hincapié 21-72 Zona 13, Ciudad Guatemala, Guatemala

Phone: (+502) 363-1980/1981/1982/1983 / Fax: (+502) 363-1980 Ext. 102

E-mail: secretaria@cepredenac.org

Website: www.cepredenac.org

Secretariat General for Planning (SEGEPLAN)

Address: 9a. calle 10-44, zona 1, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala

Phone: (+502) 232-6212/251-3790/223-26212 / Fax: (+502) 253-3127

E-mail: segeplan@segeplan.gob.gt

Website: http://www.segeplan.gob.gt/

Ministry of Education (MINEDUC)

Address: 6a. Calle 1-87 zona 10, 01010, Guatemala, C.A.

Phone: (+502) 2411-9595

E-mail: info@mineduc.gob.gt

Website: http://www.mineduc.gob.gt/

Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing

Address: 8a. Av. 15 c. Zona 13

Phone: (+502) 362-6051/55 / fax: 502/362-6066

E-mail: relpublica@micivi.gob.gt

Website: http://www.civ.gob.gt/

Ministry of Health - Nacional Disaster Coordinator

Address: 9ª Avenida 1465, Zona 1, Guatemala

Phone: (+502) 232-5665/220-7910 / Fax: (+502) 351-8277

E-mail: unides@intelnet.net.gt

Website: www.cepredenac.org

National Environment Commission (CONAMA)

Address: 5a. avenida 8-07, zona 10

Phone/Fax: (+502) 3312723/3341708

E-mail: conama@rds.org.gt

Statistics National Institute (INE)

Address: Edificio América 8a. calle 9-55, zona 1, Ciudad de Gautemala

Phone: (+502) 232-6136/238-2587 / Fax: 232-4790

E-mail: ine@gua.gbm.net

Website: www.ine.gob.gt/

National Institute of Sismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hidrology (INSIVUMEH)

Department of Research and Hidric Services

Address: 7a. Avenida 14-57 Zona 13, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala C.A.

Phone: (+502) 331-4986/4967 / Fax: (+502) 331-5005

E-mail: insivumeh@insivumeh.gob.gt

Website: http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/

National Geographic Institute Ing. Alfredo Obiols Gomez

Address: Av. Las Américas 5-76, Zona 13 CP 01013, Guatemala

Phone: (+502) 332-2611/0982 / Fax: (+502) 331-3548

E-mail: ign@ign.gob.gt

Website: http://www.ign.gob.gt/

National Association of Local Goverment of Guatemala (ANAM)

Address: 8ª. Calle 0-56 zona 9, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala

Phone: (+502) 360-3815/3825/3845 / Fax (+502) 331-6505

E-mail: anam331@yahoo.com.mx

National Forum of NGOs

Address: 2a. calle 16-60, zona 4 de Mixco, Edificio Atansio Tzul, 4to Nivel, Ciudad de Guatemala

Phone: (+502) 591-4624/25 / Fax: (+502) 591-4626

Country Profile:

Official name: Republic of Guatemala

Capital: Guatemala City

Population: 12,728,111 (July 2007 est.)

Area: 108,890 sq km

Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Language: Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)

Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census)

Government: constitutional democratic republic

Currency: quetzal, US dollar, others allowed

Geographical Description (about hazards and disasters):

The Republic of Guatemala is the land of "eternal spring". It is located in the heart of the American continent, bounded on the north and west by Mexico, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, the Republics of Honduras and El Salvador, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. It is situated between latitudes 13 ° 44 'and 18 ° 30' north and meridian 87 ° 24 'to 92 ° 14' west of Greenwich.

The country has the Cuchumatanes, the highest elevation in Central America, the Sierra Madre, which is how the central highlands of the country, marks the watershed. The central part of the mountain is more or less flat, called highlands, home to the largest cities. Of the system of the Sierra Madre emerge several branches, among the most important are the mountain ranges of Mines and Santa Cruz. Over the Sierra Madre there are over thirty volcanoes, many of them active today. In regard to the lakes, there are five major: Amatitlán, Atitlan, Güija, Izabal and Peten Itza, not to mention the large number of gaps and lagunetas. There are more than thirty-seven volcanoes, all aligned emerge on the ridge that runs parallel to the Pacific coast. Among them Tajumulco, which is the highest peak in Central America, and three active volcanoes: Pacaya, Santiaguito and Fuego.

Guatemala, because of its geographic position and its geological and tectonic features, is threatened with various natural phenomena associated with the vulnerabilities, tend to cause disasters. Because of its weather variables is affected by tropical storms or electric, a typical example is Hurricane Mitch, which struck in late October and early November 1998.

Guatemala belongs to an area of persistent threats and vulnerability exposure is largely the result of an equation in which intervenes poverty as a factor. The valley within which is based in Guatemala City and its environs, is formed mostly by deposits of pumice and a lesser amount for other types of lithology (limestones, granites to the north, south alluvial deposits, and lava tertiary the eastern and western edges). The slopes of the canyons, and because of its outstanding material properties that conforms (mainly its resistance), are susceptible to landslides. In the most common case (material pumice) stability of the slope is also influenced by the water content of the material which comprises: a higher water content, the lower the stability of the slope.

The areas most susceptible to landslides coincide with strong slopes, slopes of material with low resistance to cutting (commonly of pumice and / or rock intemperizada). In these areas are precarious settlements, which are particularly vulnerable to these phenomena.

Institutional Level:

In order to establish the institutional strengthening of Guatemala, is in the process of building a strong national system for the response and reduction of natural disasters consolidating institutional efforts of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) its role as the lead agency, which is constantly looking closer relationship with key governmental and nongovernmental agencies, which are responsible for the response and emergency management and the gradual introduction of an institutional culture through the establishment of procedures for handling disaster of general application.

As part of the process of institutional strengthening, we have the Emergency Operations Centre, which is the first in the Central American and Caribbean region, which ends completely organization, training and equipment. The CONRED, as a coordinating body, establishing a national coordinating mechanism that allows working at the national level. Plans and actions will be undertaken, aimed at strengthening and improving the responsiveness and attention to humanitarian emergencies to recognize the Republic of Guatemala with the National Response Plan, Integrated System of Emergency Management, Enhancing Systems Rescue National Multisectoral Management System for risk reduction.

On the part of the Executive Secretariat of the CONRED, monitoring of natural phenomena is done primarily through eleven early warning systems in the same number of rivers, seven for floods, two volcanoes, one for forest fires and a hurricane in the Atlantic. Moreover, it is necessary to mention other systems based on radio, international cooperation and civil society have important points installed in the country.

Under the objective of improving the levels of information on threats, with a view to reducing vulnerabilities and the impact of disasters, some public sector institutions, NGOs, CONRED, National Institute of Sismology, Vulcanology, Hydrology and Meteorology (INSIVUMEH), Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAGA), Secretariat Planning and Programming (SEGEPLAN), the Geological Service of the United States (USGS) and others have developed a Geographic Information System (GIS), as an instrument to consolidate information management strategy. Among the aspects of laws and regulations include:

• The Executive Order 109-96 of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction or Provocados, with the aim to prevent, mitigate, respond and participate in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damage caused by the impact of disasters. • The Social Development Act (Decree No. 42-2001). • The Law Council of Urban and Rural Development (Decree No. 11-2002). • The General Law on Decentralization (Decree No. 14-2002). • The New Municipal Code (Decree No. 12-2002). • The Allotment and Sale Act (Decree No. 84-2002). • Among the regulations, we Governmental Agreement No. 179-2001, declaratory high risk to the subbasins of Amatitlan, Villalobos, Michatoya and Governmental Agreement No. 23-2003, regulation evaluation, control and environmental monitoring.