A closer look at our project partner in Guatemala
COVID-19 UPDATE ON GUATEMALA
By: Emily Dulin, Executive Director
Brooke USA funds the work of ESAP (Equinos Sanos Para El Pueblo, “Healthy Equines for the People”) in Guatemala, and in conversation with the Director Mario Sapón, we learned that the government of Guatemala declared a state of public emergency on March 5, 2020.
The first case of COVID-19 in Guatemala was reported on Friday, March 13. To the date, 21 cases have been confirmed. The President has announced entry restrictions for people from countries with COVID-19 outbreaks, including the United States.
COVID-19 will most likely have a negative impact on the lives of women and girls and other vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with chronic diseases and disabilities, migrants, refugees and returnees, indigenous and peasant populations, and people who depend on informal or temporary employment. The single parent population, mainly with women as heads of household, will also be negatively impacted.
As the country deals with the situation, the following issues are of real concern:
• Social stigmas against people under quarantine,
• Increased violence against women due to their economic dependency and vulnerability,
• Lack of access to health services, particularly among indigenous and peasant populations,
• Diminished access to food, especially in households in rural areas and urban households living in poverty,
• Increased unpaid workloads for women and girls placed at-risk of contracting the virus due to lack of sanitary materials,
• Security issues as illegal patrols, arrests and vandalism become rampant,
• Collective hysteria, misinformation and the rumor mill, causing shortages of basic products,
• Inability to transit freely from one place to another due to imposed restrictions, causing shortages of goods and services,
• Food insecurity with meals prioritized for men, caused by the country’s “machismo” culture.
The crisis will certainly increase gender gaps in livelihoods and in employment by limiting women’s ability to support their families.
The government is reacting by strengthening surveillance, preparing health services, preventing the spread of the virus, and maintaining essential services.
The situation is expected to deteriorate over the next few weeks with the emergence of more confirmed cases, high demand for services, limitations on public transport and the possible saturation of the health system.
According to information from the FAO’s (Food & Agriculture Organization) technical field team, there is availability of corn, beans and grain yet price gauging is rampant, stressing the financial situation of these already living under difficult conditions.
Although ESAP’s work continues, Mario emphasizes that working horses, donkeys and mules are at high-risk as rural communities face food and water shortages with a financial crisis looming, transportation lags, and reduced work schedules, if work at all. With poor financial resources and lack of veterinary services, animals are left hungry, thirsty and sick. Not to mention that animals left to pasture run the risk of theft thus, threatening future livelihoods.
The loss of working equines and other livestock will worsen the living conditions of the most vulnerable families in Guatemala and will limit their recovery capacity in the short-term. For this reason, it is imperative that working equines remain safe during this time of a global pandemic. The animals and people that Brooke USA supports are some of the world’s most vulnerable even in the best of times. In the face of global pandemic, our responsibility to step-up is even greater.
Mario noted that the aftermath and recovery will be difficult for Guatemala. Fortunately, ESAP is the only animal-related member organization of the Equipo Humanitario del País (Humanitarian Country Team) which is activated, immediately following a disaster and includes aid organizations such as Save The Children, UNICEF, FAO, World Vision, among others. ESAP will dovetail on the work of these organizations and will provide immediate veterinary care, water and feed to equines, other livestock and pets.
Thank you, Mario, and ESAP for your work and commitment to alleviating the suffering of working horses, donkeys and mules.