By Robin Schmid | Development and Communications Officer
Since the devastating eruption on June 3 in Guatemala, WJI has been involved in response efforts, having raised $8,000 with your support. Although nine months have passed since the tragedy occurred, hundreds of families are still living in temporary shelters.
To support displaced families and relatives of victims, WJI supported the hiring of an independent lawyer who is part of a legal advisory team that is overseen by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Since our last update, the lawyer held various meetings with representatives from some of the communities hardest hit by the disaster: San Miguel los Lotes, La Trinidad, and Don Pancho. The lawyer has provided legal services to vulnerable families from these communities who remain in shelters across Guatemala.
Many families from the community of La Trinidad are temporarily housed in a shelter with extremely poor conditions where there is no access to water or electricity. The lawyer has consulted with their female-led community development council to prepare a legal brief to support the needs of community members. This will be presented at the next meeting of the UNHCR working group.
Thanks to you, families and communities around the disaster zone are receiving legal services from a local lawyer. Although the road to recovery is long and challenges remain, we are thankful that efforts are continuing to support those in need. WJI is grateful for your generosity which provided vulnerable communities with critical legal work.
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