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Disaster relief
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The original documents are located in Box 3, folder "Guatemala - Earthquake (2)" of the
National Security Adviser. NSC Latin American Affairs Staff: Files for Latin America at
the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
fels
February 16, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT: Special Report on the Guatemalan Disaster
In seismic terms, the Guatemalan earthquakes were "major";
in human terms, this disaster must be ranked as a tragedy of
great and terrible magnitude. Based on my visit to Guatemala
on February 12 and 13, I will attempt first to give you a
brief overview of the disaster and its setting.
General Situation
The major shock area is large - about 3,530 square miles, or
equivalent to the Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek area
of Michigan. 1.03 million people populate the area and 80 -
90 percent are now homeless. In the entire affected area,
22,360 are dead, 74,000 were injured and over one million
were left homeless. (The wife of President Laugerud,
concentrating on assistance to children, estimates at least
5,000 children became orphaned.) Overall, 20 percent of the
country's people are directly affected. I should mention
that as harder information comes in, the numbers keep rising.
In U.S. terms, comparable figures would mean 2,800,000
killed and injured and 38,000,000 homeless.
The greatest impact is upon the poor - and it is essentially
a rural disaster. The rural poor cluster their small adobe
homes in villages. Adobe brick walls, while they look
substantial, are not strong. They collapsed allowing the
heavy clay tile roofs to fall in on the sleeping victims.
The urban poor live in make-shift shacks which simply fell
apart.
It is relevant to make two interesting side comments to the
above. First, the casualty toll was great and the count was
difficult to make because so many victims were trapped,
unable to get outside before their dwelling collapsed during
the approximate thirty seconds of the main shock. Second,
conventionally built homes, especially the newer, though
damaged, were not destroyed, thus inflicting fewer and less
serious casualties.
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Compounding the dimensions of the disaster was that it took
place at 3:02 a.m., the time when the greatest proportion of
the population was inside, asleep and not alert to respond
quickly. And adding at least to the confusion was the
darkness. Where electricity existed, it was cut or turned
off to reduce chances for fire and electrocution from exposed,
high-tension lines.
Outside Guatemala City, the terrain, rugged, mountainous,
probably of volcanic formation, makes communications of any
kind (roads, phones, even radio) difficult even in normal
circumstances. Thus, in the vast hard-hit rural area virtu-
ally all immediate relief assistance was limited to that
available locally. The sudden, gigantic and urgent needs
for emergency help, tools, medicines were largely unmet
during the crucial early hours and first days until rescuers
could make their way in by some means.
Before turning to the response stage, I would like to mention
another facet, parenthetically. Your description to me of
the unusual nature of an earthquake you had seen some years
ago in Yugoslavia was confirmed. It is awesome. It is
almost eerie. Unlike other types of disasters, there is no
clear-cut point marking the end of exposure to further risk.
More than 600 tremors have been felt since the first quake.
They are still happening. Several of the many I felt were
severe enough shocks to do additional damage and to be
visible in the sense of seeing the movements of the building
I was in.
This has resulted in a widely felt sense of insecurity. A
view of Guatemala City from a helicopter reveals tents in
gardens, parks and on the sidewalk or street in front of
homes seemingly and reportedly not seriously damaged. Also,
many people sleep in their cars, if they don't have tents or
other shelter from the very cool nights.
My impression is that, in immediate response to the disaster,
virtually everyone who wasn't a victim turned, unhesitatingly,
to aid others. President Laugerud, for example, took direct
personal command immediately and was even able to check on
one hospital's response capability within 27 minutes. after
the quake.
This self-initiated individual type of response quickly
became organized by entity, e.g., government ministry,
church or civic group, and voluntary agency. Then with the
formation of the National Emergency Committee by the Presi-
dent there came the means of beginning to coordinate activ-
ities for a national response, including the allocation of FORD
assistance resources to areas of priority need.
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I. Assessment of Damage
A. Physical Damage
Damage is concentrated in the densely populated Indian-
inhabited Eastern Highlands, portions of the capital city
and wide areas to the west, roughly 20 percent of the area
of the country. A number of important rural population
centers in the affected area were nearly totally destroyed,
including Mixco (population 10,900), San Pedro (4,800),
Patzicia (7,100), Patzun (8,300), Joyabaj (2,400), Tecpan
(5,900), San Juan Sacatepequez (6,700), and E1 Progreso
(4,000).
1. Housing and Other Building Damage
By far the most devastating impact of the earthquake was on
the housing of the poor. The great majority of Guatemala's
population resides in small towns and rural areas in adobe
houses. Over 150,000 of these are estimated by the Govern-
ment of Guatemala to have collapsed. In Guatemala City,
some 100,000 dwellings of the urban poor were destroyed.
The value of these urban and rural dwellings has not been
determined. In most cases, they were built by the families
who occupied them. It is probable that they will be rebuilt
in the same fashion. A rough estimate of the financial
costs of replacement might range from $150-$250 million,
depending on whether new construction will adopt earthquake
resistant design improvements.
There was, of course, loss to commercial, church, and public
buildings, essentially in the small rural towns. No estimates
are available, as yet, on these losses.
Several major hopsitals in the capital were damaged by the
quake and their staffs have been operating in other available
buildings on a make-shift basis, pending assessment, repair,
or replacement of damaged hospitals. Hospitals in several
other communities were also severely damaged, as were many
health centers and health posts.
2. Infrastructure
(a) Transport and Communications
The Guatemala City-Puerte Barrios highway and railroad, the
primary transportation links from the capital to the Caribbean
coast, have been cut because of a three-span fallen bridge
and numerous landslides. A U.S. military engineer survey
team is now in the field assessing the extent of damage.
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A much more circuitous road from the coast to the capital is
still open, but cannot handle the entire heavy traffic load
that normally passes between the capital and the coast.
Preliminary estimates of the cost of restoration of the road
from Guatemala to the Caribbean approach $25 million. In
many areas of the highlands, roads also have been blocked by
numerous slides. An estimate of cost of restoring major and
secondary roads throughout the damaged area is $35 million,
of which the major cost will probably be for the main highway
artery to Puerto Barrios. The cost to repair the railroad
is not yet known.
Telephone communications, never particularly good, have been
severely damaged by the quake. Phone lines are down through-
out the affected area. Restoration is under way. However,
it will be some weeks before all major phone lines are
repaired.
(b) Water and Electricity
The first earthquake left approximately 40 percent of the
residents of the capital without water supplies, and the
water supplied to other sections of the city was unprotected
by chlorination. This situation has improved marginally
since then, due to emergency repairs and to increased chlorin-
ation. In many smaller cities, the water supply and distri-
bution systems were partially destroyed, although the main
water sources and storage systems remain relatively intact.
Restoration and improvement of all of these systems will
require major effort.
Electricity in Guatemala City is back on. However, regional
transmission as well as local distribution of power service
to many localities in the interior has been and still is
disrupted.
B. Economic Impact
1. Balance of Payments Effects
Fortunately, Guatemala enjoyed a relatively strong balance
of payments position in 1975. Its net foreign exchange
reserves increased from the end of 1973 to the end of 1975
from $201 million to $280 million, a level equal to approxi-
mately four months of imports. Still too early to project
the effects of the earthquake on Guatemala's foreign exchange
position, it is clear the tourism income, which reached $70
million in foreign exchange earnings in 1975, will decline
and probably sharply. While, in the overall, hotels are
only slightly damaged, some suffered heavy damage. It will
be some time before prospective visitors regain confidence FORD
and resume their travels to Guatemala,
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More importantly, the earthquake is expected to cause a
significant upsurge in imports, particularly of glass,
construction materials, and equipment. Some stocks of
manufactured goods will also have to be replaced. Guate-
mala's main foreign exchange earners other than tourism,
i.e., coffee, sugar, cotton, bananas and meat, have not been
affected, and almost all of its industrial production capac-
ity remains intact.
As its foreign debt service burden has been below 5 percent,
Guatemala therefore has the capacity to borrow substantially
to help finance its reconstruction and investment programs.
Heavy reliance on large commerical borrowings, however,
would increase debt servicing costs rapidly.
2. Budgetary Effects
The government's budgetary position, traditionally strong,
will certainly be adversely affected. Some reductions may
be expected in corporate and personal income tax collections
as affected businesses write off their losses. Most signif-
icant will be the effect of increased government expenditures
for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The govern-
ment will be called upon to assist the rural and normally
poor municipalities in restoring the water supply and other
essential services and provide emergency assistance to the
homeless and medical assistance to the injured. Moreover,
credit for housing reconstruction will be needed for many of
the homeless. Unfortunately, these expenditures, either for
temporary or more permanent shelter, cannot be spread over a
number of years but will have to be concentrated within a
relatively short period.
3. Effect on Prices
Price stability has long been a characteristic of the Guate-
malan economy, but that changed in 1973 and 1974 when, as
did many countries, Guatemala, largely from external causes,
experienced serious effects from inflation. However, by the
end of 1975, price stability had significantly improved.
Strong inflationary pressures are expected, as an aftermath
of the disaster, in the area of construction and construction
materials. Demand is expected to exceed substantially
available productive capacity. Wages in the construction
industry are expected to rise sharply. As an offset, the
just completed harvests of corn, beans, and wheat were
relatively bountiful and can be expected to hold down price
increases in basic foodstuffs. However, large quantities of
grains were stored in and around homes and were partially
lost. This may cause some increases in food prices.
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4. Employment Effects
A number of businesses, closed temporarily until power was
restored and repairs were made, are now reopening. However,
many neighborhood shops and small businesses have been
completely destroyed. Tourism and arts and crafts, normally
an important source of employment, may be depressed for at
least some months. Moreover, with so many homes destroyed
and material possessions lost, the arts and crafts industry,
largely a home industry, may suffer dislocation.
These adverse employment effects are expected to be of a
short-term nature. The intensive reconstruction effort will
provide additional jobs in the construction and construction
materials industries. The manufacturing industry, which
accounts for. roughly 6 percent of the GNP, has not been
seriously affected, and most major commerical establishments
either have resumed, or soon will resume, operations.
In sum, the impact of the disaster on the balance of payments
budget, production, and employment is not expected to be
unmanageable. In human terms, however, the disaster is truly
a disaster. Hardest hit were the poor, those who can least
afford to lose their employment, homes, and possessions.
II. Disaster Relief
A. Immediate Response
1. Government of Guatemala
A national emergency was declared immediately after the
first earthquake. The military received and has exercised
extraordinary powers to deal with the immediate relief
problems. The government has invested, and is investing,
massive effort in clearing roads of landslide debris,
completing initial damage assessments and distributing
government food stocks. Price controls are being enforced
to prevent the exploitation of temporary shortages. Citizens
generally are contributing time and financing to help to
save lives and feed the most affected. Private sector
resources, whether channeled through the Guatemalan Red
Cross or other organizations or provided on an individual
basis, have played a significant role in speeding relief to
those affected by the earthquake. The mass of the popula-
tion is "cooperating" by its patience, and an almost stoical
capacity for suffering.
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The Guatemalan Government has formed a National Emergency
Committee to coordinate the government relief efforts and
the generous assistance being provided by the U.S. and other
donors. The coordination task is large, complex and contin-
uing. The improving communications system and the growing
experience of the government point toward the easing of the
coordination problem.
There have been but few reports of looting, with the govern-
ment moving quickly to deal with any reported problem.
During our visit we heard no complaints about diversion of
relief supplies.
2. United States Government
Within hours after the first quake, the U.S. country team in
Guatemala and A.I.D.'s Foreign Disaster Relief Center were
in operation on a 24-hour basis. Quickly, we began to move
in supplies, equipment, and personnel. Among the first
arrivals was a U.S. military Disaster Assistance Survey Team
(DAST) from Panama. This was followed quickly by a fully-
equipped and staffed 100-bed U.S. military field hospital
that is in operation in the center of the hardest-hit area -
Chimaltenango.
Subsequently, we provided a U.S. Engineering Survey Team to
assess damage to roads, bridges, and railroads; 18 large
helicopters; 8 two-man medical/communications teams to
assess needs and provide medical assistance in isolated
areas; and a considerable amount of tents, medical supplies,
field kitchens, generators, etc., from A.I.D.'s disaster
relief stockpile in Panama. Two medical officers from the
Communicable Disease Center in Atlanta and two U.S. Public
Health Service pharmacists are assisting the Guatemalans in
establishing systems to survey disease outbreaks and in
organizing the receipt, storage, and use of the large
quantities of donated medical supplies. We are also funding
the transportation costs for certain high-priority relief
shipments by voluntary agencies. Most of our efforts are
concentrated in the hardest-hit areas of the highlands
around Chimaltenango, for the Guatemalan Government has
asked us to concentrate our resources on this area, which
was almost totally devastated.
As of February 14, we have allocated $3.6 million to this
effort. The cost of relief over a 30 to 60-day period may
require up to $20 million, depending on the timing for the
phasing down of helicopter and field hospital use.
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3. Other Donors
(a) Third Country and International Organizations
Relief Assistance
Thus far, 24 nations other than the United States (and the
list is growing) have contributed to the relief effort.
Contributions are being made in cash, personnel, transport,
food and other commodities. I am attaching hereto a listing
of third-country assistance based on the information currently
available to us (TAB A).
International organizations are also responding to the needs
of the immediate relief phase. Their known contributions,
which already amount to over $3.6 million, are listed in
attachment TAB B.
(b) Voluntary Agencies
Voluntary agencies, such as CARE, Catholic Relief Services
(CRS), Caritas, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Seventh
Day Adventists, Partners of the Americas (Alabama), and a
host of others, including from other countries, have provided
and are providing generous and effective support as they put
to quick use long and practical experience in dealing with
disasters. There is no reliable estimate yet available of
the financial value of their assistance. A listing, based
on currently known information, is also attached (TAB C).
B. Post-Immediate Relief Phase
We are now at a time when immediate relief requirements are
moving into manageable proportions. Medical emergency needs
have been largely identified and satisfied, but certainly
not entirely, particularly in the more remote rural areas.
In-country stocks of medicines, bolstered by donations still
arriving, should be adequate to satisfy requirements, although
there may be specialized needs from time to time which
generally can be handled by other donors and private voluntary
organizations. The major hospitals in Guatemala City are
functioning well and are meeting the immediate needs for
medical and surgical care.
No signs of epidemics have appeared. The process of restoring
water services in rural towns, as well as in parts of Guatemala
City, is moving ahead rapidly with provision for proper
treatment of water supplies receiving high priority. Apart
from the need for a relatively minimal quantity of tools and
supplies in addition to the water storage tanks already
supplied by the U.S., completion of temporary repairs to
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water systems in the affected area should be possible without
significant further external relief requirements.
Water supply capacity in the capital is back to about 50
percent of pre-earthquake levels. Shortage of supply is of
lesser concern than is quality. The municipal water plants
are chlorinating the water being distributed, but damage to
the city's parallel water and sewage pipe systems has rendered
supply potentially unsafe. Attention is being given to this
problem by the government with assistance by the U.S. and
others. The monitoring by the health authorities of hospitals
and clinics is continuing in order to detect as quickly as
possible any emerging health problems.
The major continuing problem, for the short and long run, is
the need to provide adequate shelter to the many homeless.
Given the relatively modest aspirations of the rural popula-
tion, provisional needs increasingly are being met by the
government and several donors. However, additional new
inputs for this purpose are being considered by others.
Properly handled, temporary shelter solutions can form the
basis for rapidly resolving permanent housing needs through
self-help programs utilizing simple materials and tools.
Barring further major quakes, a reasonable degree of normal
economic activity and public services should be restored and
in place in all but the remote areas by the end of this
month or early March. An important factor bearing on this
process, however, will be the rapidity with which closed
roads are opened to permit access for the movement of food
and other commodities. While there is no possibility that
the main highway to Puerto Barrios can be opened within this
time frame, temporary bypass construction will be needed.
In-country equipment capacity should be sufficient to handle
general road clearing work, but preliminary surveys by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Atlantic highway damage
indicate that reopening of the highway will require a major
effort, expecially if the work called for along the fifty
miles primarily affected is to be completed by the advent of
the rainy season in mid-May and which normally continues
until November. Whether this operation, located in rugged,
difficult terrain, is within the country's capability must
await completion of the in-depth damage assessment by the
Corps of Engineers and a review of construction capacity now
being carried out by the Ministry of Public Works. Decisions
are expected shortly. Opening the road is obviously one of
the priority tasks. The government, with its own facilities,
hopes to be able to restore the railroad link before the
rainy season.
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Food stocks, augmented through foreign donations, should be
sufficient for the next few months. There will be continuing
difficulties, however, in ensuring adequate supplies in all
areas because of access problems.
III. Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
Even while the Guatemalans struggle to deal with the emergency
needs facing them, attention must be given, and is being
given, to the next phases, i.e., the shorter-run rehabilita-
tion task and the longer-run reconstruction task. There is
no clear line distinguishing between these phases, and they
are not necessarily successive in time sequence, as some
must proceed in planning and execution simultaneously.
Essentially, what is involved are decisions on policies and
actions for interim and long-term responses to the conse-
quences of the disaster.
After a relatively long period of slow economic growth,
Guatemala, in recent years, has begun to develop a national
network of public services with increased capacity to attend
to the development needs of the large mass of rural and
urban poor. The interruption caused by the earthquake in
this delayed process of spreading the benefits of develop-
ment to perhaps 80 percent of Guatemala's people poses not
only a humanitarian problem but a challenge of fundamental
importance to the future course of that nation. In recog-
nition of this fact, President Laugerud has announced that
it will be the policy of his government to continue overall
development efforts for the entire country, guided by the
1975-79 Development Plan. The necessary rehabilitation and
reconstruction efforts in the earthquake affected areas are
obviously of high priority, but this priority should desir-
ably not deter the government from its development efforts
to improve the quality of life of the poor Guatemalans.
The National Economic Planning Council is about to complete
an initial assessment of damage cost and economic impact
projections which will form the basis for more precise
estimates of external assistance needs and internal self-
help capacity. Major capital inputs will obviously be
required for housing, road repair, public infrastructure
(schools, medical centers and hospitals, water supply
systems, and public buildings), small business rehabili-
tation and communication facilities. Moreover, small farmer
productivity must be assured through effective and timely
provision of normal governmental and cooperative services
(credit, technical assistance, distribution of improved
seeds and fertilizers, etc.). The extent to which this
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affected areas is not yet fully determined, but it is impor-
tant that it be in place and functioning within the next 6-8
weeks in anticipation of the May planting season. Obviously,
projections of future food import needs will be influenced
by how well the planting goes in the affected area which,
outside of Guatemala City, is largely populated by small,
subsistence-level farmers.
IV. Resources for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
A. Guatemalan Self-Help Measures
The administration of President Laugerud has been distin-
guished by its dedication to accelerating programs with
impact in the long-neglected social areas. A competent
managerial team within his cabinet has pushed forward major
development projects, ranging from improved water supply to
greatly increased electric power that had begun, before the
disaster, to move Guatemala into the forefront of the
Central American countries in terms of growth. If, as we
hope, major economic activity quickly will be restored to
the pre-earthquake level and fiscal progress can be main-
tained and intensified to help carry the heavy burdens now
placed upon the population, Guatemala should be in a posi-
tion to help finance a major portion of the programs re-
quired to regain and surpass its pre-earthquake situation.
The Guatemalan authorities stress their recognition that the
foundation of Guatemala's recovery cum development thrust
will rest solidly on its own self-help measures. They
further recognize that external assistance will depend
heavily on demonstration of such self-help. It is too soon
to judge whether it will be possible for the government to
pursue fully recovery and development simultaneously.
Fortunately, as noted, at the time of the disaster, Guate-
mala was in a relatively strong financial and economic
situation which can bolster the self-reliance underpinning
of their laudable approach. Some tradeoffs may be necessary,
however.
A major question in the post-earthquake period situation is
the administrative and managerial capacity of Guatemalan
institutions to handle the increased burdens of a recon-
struction program. This is understandable because of the
burdens being placed on top of the normal ones already
associated with implementing an active and expanding develop-
ment program. Preliminary consideration is being given to
creating a special reconstruction entity. Such an entity
would have the responsibility and authority to plan and
direct the utilization of all resources destined for recon-
struction. An important benefit of this approach would be
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that the entity would be in a position to hire or have
assigned to it top-notch, qualified personnel, thereby
avoiding the problem of overloading existing ministerial
staffs. Presumably, the new entity would also be granted
emergency powers, enabling it to bypass many of the Guate-
malan Government's present internal administrative proce-
dures, thus speeding up project implementation.
B. External Assistance
1. United States
Apart from immediate assistance provided to meet the initial
emergency and which will be phased down with the decreasing
need for such assistance, the question of further U.S.
assistance can be approached from two levels. The first
essentially involves reviewing existing loan and grant
projects to determine whether restructuring would be feasi-
ble. This examination is underway. Fortuitously, A.I.D.
recently (December 1975) had authorized a $13 million loan
for small farmer development which is directed at the
Highland Indian farmer. The Minister of Finance has indi-
cated that the Guatemalan Government wishes to sign the loan
agreement immediately. Our preliminary assessment is that
essentially no restructuring will be necessary to ensure
concentration of resources where needed. Also, the Govern-
ment of Guatemala and A.I.D. signed in November 1975 a $7
million rural primary education loan which included approx-
imately $4.2 million for up-grading school buildings pri-
marily in the Highland area. Some reorientation of prior-
ities in this program will likely be required in terms of
school site selection, but, essentially, this loan is
available to assist in the rehabilitation and reconstruction
effort. Also, additional U.S. Government support, through
the U.S. International Disaster Assistance Authority, for
the early rehabilitation effort is being considered, pending
further assessment of identified needs. The assessment is
already underway and will require continuing close coor-
dination with the government, other donor nations, and
international organizations. Only until we know more of the
nature and substance of the international and Guatemalan
Government's national response can we establish our own
priorities and clarify possible additional funding require-
ments.
U.S. voluntary agencies possess large capabilities, unique
to each voluntary agency, which can play an important role
in the rehabilitation phase. They are on the ground with
established delivery systems which can meet the needs of
many disaster victims without further straining government
capacity. We hope that this capacity will continue to be
utilized in the post-relief phases.
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Over the next months, we anticipate that the Guatemalan
Government's planning process will identify specific, longer-
run needs which could appropriately be met through A.I.D.
development loans and grants and which would clearly be
consistent with congressional mandate criteria for develop-
ment assistance. We should seek to be responsive within the
means that may be made available through the appropriation
process.
2. External Assistance from Other Sources
For the post-emergency relief phase, I believe that the
major burden of external assistance can be carried by the
multilateral agencies, particularly the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the Inter-
American Development Bank (IDB). The major requirements for
shelter and urban reconstruction, generally, as well as more
permanent restoration of infrastructure (roads, bridges,
railroads, and ports), may well find substantial financing
through these multilateral channels to supplement Guatemalan
resources. It is interesting to note that only last month
the Inter-American Development Bank provided $135 million in
loans for Guatemala (more than that country has had in total
during the previous fifteen years of the Bank's existence).
Portions of these may be redirected as a result of the
disaster. Both financial institutions are already planning
their active involvement. An IDB team has already been to
Guatemala and a World Bank team is being dispatched shortly.
3. Coordination
Leadership in the coordination of the rehabilitation and
reconstruction efforts has to come from the Guatemalans.
They know it. With the support of ourselves and the many
others interested in helping Guatemala, they can well perform
the task. We anticipate that a consultative arrangement
among donors and lenders will develop to insure a maximum,
coordinated effort.
V. Contingency Planning for Possible Future Disasters
Even now, the Government of Guatemala must significantly
strengthen its contingency planning for future disasters.
Regrettably, the possibility cannot be ruled out that Guate-
mala, much of which is located along the long east-west
Motaqua Fault, may still face other quakes.
The U.S. Government can provide technical assistance to
the Guatemalans for contingency planning. We plan to help
Guatemala lay out the various options it may have for
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responding to any future natural disasters. We feel that
more can be done to help the Guatemalan Government not to be
taken by total surprise in the event of another major disaster.
For example, United States Geologic Survey Geologists are
now monitoring the tensions of the fault line which runs
near Guatemala City. The tension has not yet abated fully
and, with sophisticated monitoring devices, we may be able
to provide the Guatemalan Government with some forewarning
of another major earthquake.
Because the terrain of this country has changed significantly
in some areas, we are alerting the Guatemalan Government to
the concern that flooding of abnormal proportions may occur
this year. Members of the U.S. Army Engineering Survey Team
are making assessments of some possible waterways that may
cause flooding damage to the already-disrupted major highway
to the sea.
Mr. President, the government and the people of Guatemala
have responded well to the aftermath of the disaster.
Certainly, there were and, indeed are, problems of coor-
dination and maximum effective use of domestic and foreign
resources; but the consensus of experienced observers is
that the Guatemalan effort, given the enormity of its tasks,
has responded well. They merit the continuing help from the
United States and others.
President Laugerud asked that I convey to you, on behalf of
himself and his people, the deepest appreciation for your
personal interest and support. He stressed that it was not
only the important technical and material assistance being
provided by the U.S. Government and people but also the
moral encouragement and bolstering derived by his government
and the Guatemalan people from the spirit and timeliness of
that support. He emphasized, too, his recognition that
Guatemala itself must bear the major burden of the present
and continuing costs of the disaster and that the nature and
extent of its self-help measures will help determine the
nature and extent of external support.
I wish also to commend to you all elements of the U.S.
country team. Under the active leadership of Ambassador
Meloy, they continue to devote themselves on a round-the-
clock basis. I believe all the people of the United States
may be proud of the U.S. role in helping the Guatemalan
people in the traumatic aftermath of a major disaster.
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- 15 -
While many other nations and organizations responded quickly
with supplies and personnel, the U.S. response, both public
and private, was critical in averting a serious worsening of
the crisis.
In making the trip to Guatemala, I was joined by two con-
gressional staff members, Ms. Herschelle Challenor of the
House International Relations Subcommittee on International
Resources, Food and Energy, and Mr. Richard McCall legis-
lative assistant to Senator Gale McGee, Chairman, Senate
Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs.
I am grateful for their participation. Mr. Herman Kleine,
my Assistant Administrator for Latin America, and Major
Marshall N. Carter, USMC, a White House Fellow serving as my
special assistant, also accompanied me. Their support is
greatly appreciated.
Daniel Parker
Attachments:
A - Third Country Donor Assistance
B - International Organizations Assistance
C . Voluntary Agency Assistance
GERALD ? FORD
THIRD COUNTRY DONOR ASSISTANCE as of February 15, 1976
The Office of Foreign Disaster Relief Coordination has reports of
the following contributions in cash or kind from third country donors.
Argentina
field hospital w/medical team
Belgium
30,000 lbs.
Red Cross supplies
Brazil
45,000 lbs.
food and medical supplies
Canada
24,000 lbs.
milk
35,000 lbs.
food
75,000 lbs.
milk ($160,000)
blankets ($300,000)
Cash, Embassy
($15,000)
Cash, Red Cross
($100,000)
Colombia
23,800 lbs.
medical supplies
18,600 lbs.
food
Costa Rica
8,000 lbs.
hospital supplies
doctors, nurses
4,740 lbs.
medical supplies, food
4,000 lbs.
plaster
Dominican Republic
5 doctors
22,000 lbs.
medicines and food
Ecuador
7,000 lbs.
medical supplies
7,000 lbs.
food
France
cash ($11,260)
Germany, FRG
80,000 lbs.
medical supplies
Haiti
7,230 lbs.
food
Honduras
9,000 lbs.
food
tents
26,000 lbs.
medical supplies
19,000 lbs.
food and other supplies
Israel
4,000
blankets
26,000 lbs.
food and medical supplies
Italy
Cash
(15 million lira)
(US$22,000)
GERALD ? LIBRARY FORD
2.
Mexico
12,000 lbs.
medicines and food
5 doctors
200 tons
food per day by truck
10,000 lbs.
meat and medicines
17,240 lbs.
food and medicines
10,000 lbs.
milk powder
8,000 lbs.
radio equipment, food & milk
10,300 lbs.
medical supplies & food
13,600 lbs.
food and medical supplies
12,500 lbs.
food and medical supplies
27,600 lbs.
mattresses, food, clothes
16,200 lbs.
food
10,000 lbs.
medical supplies
New Zealand
CORSO donated $2,500 to CRS
NICARAGUA
field hospital completely staffed
28,600 lbs.
food
13,500 lbs.
food
22,500 lbs.
medical supplies
6,000 lbs.
tents and rice
Norway
Cash to Red Cross ($90,300)
Cash through VolAgs ($57,800)
Panama
18,000 lbs.
medicines
medical team, plasma, medicines, food & blankets
16,000 lbs.
food, hospital supplies
6,000 lbs.
food
4,000 lbs.
medical supplies
Peru
medicine, food and blankets
Spain
medicine & supplies ($250,000)
Sweden
Cash to Red Cross ($22,727)
Cash to UNDRO ($11,363)
Switzerland
Cash for shelters ($37,500)
United Kingdom
250 tents, blankets, sanitation equipment
Venezuela
Field hospital, medicines, blankets, food,
milk, rescue team
44,000 lbs.
medicines and food
20,000 lbs.
food and medicine
30,000 lbs.
food and medicine
35,000 lbs.
food and medicine
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VOLUNTARY AGENCY ASSISTANCE as of February 15, 1976
The following is a list of the Volunteer Agencies and information on
their activities as currently known:
Baptist World Alliance
Cash
$2,000
CARE
9 mil. lbs.
Title II food
5000
blankets
95
first aid kits
miscellaneous medicines
Catholic Relief Services -
United States Catholic
Conference
Cash
$10,000
16 1/2 tons
shelter material,
blankets, emergency
kits, tools, clothing
(additional 30 tons
being shipped by air)
Church World Service
4 truck loads
relief supplies
10,000
blankets
David Livingston Foundation
specifics unknown
Food for the Hungry
specifics unknown
Lutheran World Service
Cash
$20,000
5,000
blankets
Medical Assistance Program
specifics unknown
Support for Instituto Evangelico
medical supplies
Salvation Army
1,000 lbs.
powdered milk
1,000 lbs.
miscellaneous
medical supplies
On Order:
60,000 lbs.
canned food
$10,000
medical supplies
Seventh Day Adventists
World Service
40,000 lbs.
food
2,000 lbs.
medicine
3,000 lbs.
blankets
5,000 lbs.
clothing
200
tents
(have medical team in Tecpan)
GERAND & FORD
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ASSISTANCE - - as of February 15, 1976
Relief assistance from International Organizations has been reported
to date as follows:
CASH CONTRIBUTIONS
US Dollars
1. ORGANIZATIONS OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS)
Cash for the purchase of roofing
materials, medical supplies and
other commodities
$700,000
2. LEAGUE OF RED CROSS SOCIETIES (LICROSS)
Contributions of goods and cash
from National Societies
1,500,000
3. EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY (EEC)
Cash donation
250,000
4. PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION (PAHO)
Cash donation
50,000
5. UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM
1,180,936
A. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
Cash donation
100,000
B. WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP)
Food for Work allocation
985,936
C. UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL
CHILDRENS FUND (UNICEF)
Cash donation
75,000
D. UNITED NATIONS DISASTER RELIEF
ORGANIZATION (UNDRO) THROUGH
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME (UNDP)
20,000
TOTAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
$ 3,680,936
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS
PAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
6 ea. packaged disaster
hospitals
(Three states, Alabama (through the Alabama Partners - Partner of
Guatemala), South Carolina and Oregon have contributed 2 hospitals each.)
GERALD A FORD LIBRARY
2.
Seventh Day Adventists
On Order:
World Service (continued)
50,000 lbs.
corn
50,000 lbs.
beans
50,000 lbs.
rice
16,000 lbs.
medicine
100 bed
hospital
5,000
blankets
1,000
tents
Working in: Guatemala City
and 4 outlying towns.
Southern Baptist Convention
Foreign Mission Board
cash
$25,000
270
tents
250
sleeping bags
World Neighbors, Inc.
Support of 23 medical personnel from
U. of Miami in Cooperation with Save
the Children Foundation
World Relief Commission
cash
$35,000
World Vision International
cash
$15,000
American National Red Cross
cash
$100,000
3,400
tents
5,000
blankets
1,000
cots
20,000 lbs.
medical supplies
60,000 lbs.
food
On Order:
3,000
tents
6
3/4 ton pickups
5
ambulances
Working in: Zones 3 and 6
Guatemala City and 6
outlying towns
Christian Aid
30,000 lbs.
food
Help the Aged
10,000
blankets
5,000 lbs.
food
British
Red Cross
22 tons
medicine
Mormon Mission
$5,000
food
6,000 lbs.
blankets & tents
500 lbs.
clothing
500 lbs.
medical supplies
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THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEETING WITH DANIEL PARKER FOR
REPORT ON HIS TRIP TO GUATEMALA
Monday, February 16, 1976
11: 30 a.m. (15 minutes)
The Oval Office
From: Brent Scowcroft
I.
PURPOSE
To receive Dan Parker's firsthand report on the situation in
Guatemala after his visit there last week as your emissary.
II.
BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS & PRESS ARRANGEMENTS
A. Background: Last Wednesday, February 11, Ron Nessen
announced that you had asked Dan Parker to go to Guatemala
to survey the situation and report back to you about it and
the progress of our relief efforts there. He left early Thursday
morning and returned Friday night. The highlights of his conclu-
sions are as follows:
The loss in Guatemala was essentially a personal one: of
human life and housing, as distinct from the recent Honduras
typhoon where the country's economic capacity was badly
damaged. This was a rural disaster primarily affecting the
poor because of the construction of the houses.
Following the first shock and trauma of the earthquake, the
Guatemalan people and Government have begun to pull them-
selves together and are now responding with vigor. They are
completing the process of sorting out the rubble and some rebuilding
has begun.
The U.S. relief effort has been impressive and reassuring. Our
help was timely and effective. In many cases our helicopters were
the first help received by isolated towns and villages. Now other
help is beginning to come in, particularly from Central America.
GERALD ? LIBRARY FORD
2
The productivity of the economy in Guatemala has not been badly
damaged but it will be strained by the added burden placed upon
it. The government has decided not to sacrifice its development
effort for the demands of relief and rehabilitation. What is needed
is help to permit the Guatemalans to help themselves. It is particu-
larly urgent to move promptly because of the expected onset of the
rainy season in mid-May which will last until November. Not only
is housing needed, but the roads must be cleared and repaired or
they will be further damaged by the rains.
Tremors are apparently continuing and Parker will want to
discuss some further information on this subject with you.
Parker is planning to brief the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
this afternoon.
B. Participants:
Daniel Parker, Administrator of AID and
Special Coordinator for International Disaster
Assistance;
Herman Kleine, Deputy AID Administrator for
Latin America;
Major Marshall Carter, USMC, White House Fellow;
Brent Scowcroft
C. Press Arrangements: Press photo session. Meeting to be announced.
III.
TALKING POINTS:
1. I want to thank you for responding so promptly to my request to go
to Guatemala and examine the situation there and our efforts to relieve
the human suffering.
2. What were the impressions you received?
3. I am impressed at the prompt and effective response to this tragedy
on the part of both public and private organizations in this country.
4. We should continue our assistance, trying to help the Guatemalans
help themselves.
PORD LIBRARY &
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5. I think we should take this occasion, too, to examine the broader
question of our response to disasters of this kind. We will
undoubtedly be called upon again to respond to future disasters.
Therefore, as soon as the immediate crisis is over I would like
you to examine how we can strengthen our capacity to deal with
this kind of thing:
(a) to take a look at how we can be best prepared for quick
assessments and prepackaged assistance
(b) to examine how we are coordinating our efforts with state
and local governments and private organizations involved
in disaster relief
(c) finally, to see whether we can do more in terms of disaster
prediction and preparation for it by more sturdy building.
FORD LIBRARY & GERALD
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CODEWORD
SUBJECT S. Res 390 re the Suatemales TS Earth SENSITIVE
Res INTERNAL Langered ROUTING AND DISTRIBUTION ACTION Sarcia INFO REC FOR CY ACTION MEMO FOR of REQUIRED HAK Justemala (
for Justher disturber for
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(
)
(
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)
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+
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(
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FOR:
(
)
UNITED NATIONS
ANY ACTION NECESSARY?
(
ECONOMIC
)
SCIENTIFIC
CONCURRENCE
(
PROGRAM ANALYSIS
DUE DATE:
3-4
NSC PLANNING
COMMENTS: (INCLUDING SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS)
CONGRESSIONAL
+
OCEANS POLICY
INTELLIGENCE
DATE
FROM
TO
S
SUBSEQUENT ACTION REQUIRED
(OR TAKEN): fill Guat CY TO
SUBSEQUENT ROUTING ACTIONS
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CY RQMTS: SEE ABOVE PLUS:
MICROFILM & FILE RQMTS
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& DATE
BY
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FOLDER:
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/NSC 75-221
MEMORANDUM
staff
THE WHITE HOUSE
1151
WASHINGTON
February 23, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
BRENT SCOW CROFT
FROM:
BOB LINDER Lind
Attached is a copy of S. Res. 390, transmitted to the President
by a letter from the Secretary of the Senate. I am forwarding these
items to you for appropriate handling in accordance with Section 3
of the resolution.
Attachment
GERALD LIBRARY ? FORD
FRANCIS R. VALEO
SECRETARY
UNITED STATES SENATE
WASHINGTON
February 19, 1976.
MFmel
The President,
The White House,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. President:
I am forwarding herewith,
for your interest, a copy of Senate Resolution
390. adopted by the Senate on February 17, 1976.
Respectfully yours,
7- R. Vales
Francis R. Valeo,
Secretary of the Senate.
Enclosure:
S. Res. 390.
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S.Res.390
In the Senate of the United States,
February 17, 1976.
Whereas the people of our sister Republic, Guatemala, suffered
a devastating blow as the result of the recent earthquakes and
tremors in February 1976; and
Whereas these quakes and tremors caused the loss of thousands of
lives and the destruction or devastation of many towns and
villages, rendering homeless many thousands of people; and
Whereas the people and Government of the United States, in
accord with the traditions of the United States, are anxious to
assist the people of Guatemala in their tragic hour of bereave-
ment and suffering; and
Whereas the task of relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction
which faces Guatemala is huge, requiring outside support and
assistance beyond the present emergency requirements:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate extend its deepest sympathy to the
President and to the people of Guatemala in this dark hour of
their suffering and distress.
FORD
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SEC. 2. It is the sense of the Senate that the executive branch
GERALD
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of the United States Government be urged to develop, in coopera-
tion with other potential donors in and outside of the Western
2
Hemisphere, both governmental and private, programs to assist
the people of Guatemala in their efforts to relieve the suffering
caused by the disaster and to rehabilitate their nation from the
damage inflicted.
SEC. 3. Copies of the present resolution shall be distributed
through appropriate channels to the President of Guatemala.
Attest:
7 R. Vales
Secretary.
GERALD " LLBRARY , ORD