AMERICA/GUATEMALA - 4 villages of ethnic Q'eqchi are isolated due to severe floods, the Church intervenes

San Pedro Carchá (Agenzia Fides) - The torrential rains that hit the town of Santa Catalina La Tinta, which is part of the Department of Alta Verapaz, have caused serious damage to the population of the mountainous areas of the parish "La Tinta". Rescue operations to the affected families, who have lost almost everything, immediately began with the involvement of the Salesian Mission situated in Altaverapaz, by a parish of ethnic Q'eqchi of 250 thousand inhabitants.
The bishop of the Diocese of Verapaz Coban, Msgr. Rodolfo Valenzuela, called on the whole diocese to intervene and help the 4 affected villages that have remained isolated. The path to reach them was hard, because the route which is usually used was destroyed by landslides, is what is read in a statement by ANS. Rescuers in the villages of Kaqiha 'and Samiha arrived after 4 hours by car and 3 hours on foot. The Salesians working with the indigenous Q'eqchi regularly face situations of need and social problems in relief activities to the population. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 08/08/2013)