2024-07-12 10:09:42
On Monday, July 8, 2024, it was announced that the President of Guatemala declared State of Public Calamity due to rains that have occurred in the country in recent months and soil saturation, which increases the risk of natural disasters in several departments of the country.
State of Public Calamity declared due to rains in Guatemala
He President of Guatemala, Bernardo ArevaloThrough the Government Decree 2-2024ha declared he State of Public Calamity in the entire national territory due to the “high rate of accumulation of rain y current soil saturation in the national territory, thus increasing the risk of experiencing natural disasters in the departments and municipalities of the Republic, which has generated an impact on the rights and assets of people and damage to strategic assets of the State. […]”, as indicated in article 2 of the aforementioned decree.
The State of Public Calamity will be in effect for thirty days, beginning on July 7, 2024. During this time, the Congress of the Republic has been asked to ratify or disapprove the decree within a period of three days.
What measures will be implemented?
The decree establishes that certain constitutional rights may be limited, such as freedom of action and freedom of movement, established in articles 5 and 26 of the Political Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala. These restrictions will only apply in cases necessary to implement the following measures:
- Restrict the free movement and circulation of vehicles, as well as the entry and exit of people in affected areas, and also request the change or permanence of people’s residence.
- Order evacuation in regions affected or in danger due to rain.
- Implement actions at the national, regional, departmental, municipal and local levels to prevent, mitigate and address the damage caused by the rainy season, coordinated by the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred).
- Take the necessary actions for the immediate care of the affected population, with the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) and Conred coordinating efforts.
- Maintain free road access in affected areas, with the Ministry of Communications and Conred working together.
- Mobilize public servants from the Executive Branch and request the support of individuals, municipalities, and decentralized and autonomous entities to control the situation in the affected areas.
- Protect and ensure the life, integrity, security and property of the population in affected areas, with the collaboration of civil and military authorities under the coordination of Conred.
The government decree also guarantees that no person will be persecuted or harassed for his or her opinions or actions that do not involve a violation of the law, as established in Article 4.
Other actions to be implemented
Under the State of Public Calamity, several ministries and entities are authorized to acquire goods, supplies, works and services necessary to resolve the situations arising from this emergency. The ministries involved include:
- Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing
- Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food
- Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance
- Conred
National donations must be registered in the name of the State of Guatemala, and each agency involved must settle the donations received within a period of no more than ninety days from receipt. The Ministry of Public Finance is also empowered to identify and allocate the necessary budgetary spaces to address the emergency. This ministry will allocate the financial quotas to the executing units, according to the availability of the Government and the Fund for Public Emergencies and Calamities.
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