Link to article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-5484976
In addition to the 50 confirmed deaths across Guatemala due to Eta, President Alejandro Giammattei states another 100 people are feared dead in the central region of Alta Verapaz. Rising river levels, flooding, and landslides have caused a state of emergency to be declared in many areas of the country. Hundreds of people are trapped in the large areas that have been flooded, and rescue efforts are limited due to the country’s sole helicopter adequate for this situation.
Guatemala has already been hit hard by the effects of Covid-19, and with the destruction that Eta has caused, government officials are unsure about how handle the financial situation of the country. Foreign Affairs Minister Lisandro Rosales states, “We make a call to the international community to accelerate the process of recovery and reconstruction.”
Guatemala’s neighboring countries of Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador have also been significantly affected by the strong winds and torrential rains of Eta. Humanitarian organizations are readying resources and supplies to help assist Central America, where hundreds of thousands have been affected.
Eta will certainly leave a lasting impact in Guatemala and its region. The communities are already vulnerable due to the impact of the coronavirus. On top of weak institutions, migration, violence, and lack of economic opportunities, the public health and economic crises of the pandemic have worsened the already struggling political and social situation in Central America. However, response to the public health and economic emergencies of Covid-19 fall-out and Storm Eta may be the catalyst needed to transform Central America’s historic challenges and inequalities.
Guatemala’s current situation is an example of the collective goods problem that we’ve taken a look at in class. How is it fair that people in Central America are living through poverty, a pandemic, and extreme flooding and loss of habitat, while those of us in the U.S. or other wealthy countries are safe and healthy? In order to ensure that human rights are maintained, countries around the globe should be providing huge amounts of aid to the struggling region. However, there is no central authority forcing anyone to take action. While helping those in need is morally correct, how will it essentially benefit the interests of the first country? If only one member of the group is benefited, then there’s no point to take action in the first place.