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After visiting with Herberto we returned to Chonita's for
lunch. The afternoon was dedicated to working with Domingo on the
reconstruction project. There was so much destruction from Hurricane Stan
not only in Santiago but all over the country. There were 2 areas in
Santiago that were especially hit, Panabaj and
Pachijah. Panabaj is the area
that was hardest hit and at best count there were 800 people buried
there. Supposedly it was declared a national cemetery, but when we
walked through it there were a few people rebuilding their
homes there. The government had relocated people in temporary
housing. There were about 300 families in this area and about
150 families are living with relatives. The temporary housing
was pretty bleak. Here is how my friend Goyo describes it after
being there a few weeks ago. While the situation is still desperate, it is also obvious
that the national and international attention that Panabaj has
received has made an impact.
The Aburgue where the
displaced live
The canvas and wood houses with tin roofs provide shelter
from the sun and not much else –
no insulation against cold, no protection against rains that
begin in less than three months, and plenty of open spaces for
wind to whip between the roofs and walls. Each family has a
room and shares a communal cooking area; bathrooms are in a
neat line probably less than 50 feet from the grid of houses
packed together. Domingo estimates that 60% of the survivors of
the Panabaj mudslide live in the donated housing (alburgue),
while 40% are renting in Santiago or living with relatives.
Around 300 families have been relocated from this canton. The
names of the donors are liberally imprinted on outhouses, water
tanks and the canvas walls: Oxfam, USAID, HIVOS, EU, CONIC. We
ask about the health and sanitation, and Domingo explains that
there have been no major outbreaks or problems beyond the
usual, which must mean that the sanitation and water is
adequate. The big debate now, which has divided the refugee
community, is where to rebuild Panabaj. The area where the
refugee camp is located is the only nearby flat and open
ground, and it is owned by the Catholic Church which is willing
to donate the land. Unfortunately, experts from a non
governmental institute came out and took a look around and
declared the proposed site a high risk area, which the national
government has ignored. Taking a look at the path the mudslide
took, it is easy to imagine rains and mud following the channel
created by the wall of mud coming down the volcano at 30 to 40
mph. It is also important to understand how the water patterns
typically behaved before Stan. Panabaj received rain runoff not
from Toliman (the source of the mudslide) but from the more distant Volcan Atitlan. The
runoff from Toliman was diverted by a hill between the volcano
and the village which was regarded as a safety barrier. The
mudslide plowed right through the hill, opening a channel that
future runoff from Toliman can follow, which seems like it will
lead to very swampy conditions during the rainy season, with
the small plateau receiving rain from two sides. The main
argument in favor of relocating in the same place seems to be
the lack of an alternative site that is open and flat. I think the plans are pretty set to
build there as there was a model house set up and they had started chalking
out the plots of land. The plots were very close and things
looked pretty unsafe to me. The rainy season may come early this year so I think there
is a determination to get the people out of the temporary
housing.
The government seems to be putting all of their resources in
Panabaj and nothing in Pachichaj. Domingo took us to all of the houses
that we are rebuilding. We did not see much rebuilding in Pachichaj just
destruction. There weren't as many deaths here so there was not as much
media attention. The mayor apparently had some money because the first thing
he did was clean all the mud out of the soccer field. We asked
Domingo what other NGO's were helping with the rebuilding and
he said he did not know of any.. it seems that alot of NGO's
give the money to the city (the mayor) to handle... as we could see by the soccer field this was not working too well.
So.... I was very proud that we were one organization that was getting
some things done.
A new house being built
We initially selected 8 houses to work on, 4 of which were
total reconstruction projects and 4 were rebuilding walls and
putting up retaining walls. For houses that withstood the mud
and remained upright, construction began at the previous roof
line, the floor of the new house is the mud from the slide.
Most of the families here are staying with relatives in other places. The problem we are having now as I said before is
that no one else seems to be helping. Domingo says at least 25 more families
have come to him for help because they have nothing and there
isn't anyone else. We are prioritizing these needs. It is overwhelming but so many of
you have donated money that we can keep going and continue until the
money runs out... A nice couple in the states has contacted me
and said they would donate up to $5000.00 in matching funds to help with this
project. So..starting March 1st until the end of April, any money coming
in will be matched. We met several of the families that were
rebuilding and they were so thankful. If there is an able bodied male in the family,
it is expected that he help with the rebuilding. Kevin Kelly an electrician
friend kept busy wiring house after house. The houses are generally one
big room, sometimes two. Right now we don't have money to add
bathrooms or kitchens. I just wish all of you could have seen the houses and
experienced how much they are appreciated.
One of the houses moved to the hill
It was a very full day, physically and emotionally. There
were several houses that were moved from what looked like a
river bed, where the slide came through to the hills
nearby...everyone of them that we are building will have rebar
and a retaining wall. We may not be able to afford bathrooms or
kitchens for them, but we don't want to slack off on the
strength of the buildings and the people's safety.
The evening we were busy going over the budget for the
building project.
Good things are happening with the money alot of you sent.
Many thanks.
Miltioish...Thank you in Tzuthil.
Diane
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