The Mesoamerican Food Security Early Warning System has recently (15-05-2006) published an update on the current food security situation in Guatemala since Hurricane Stan. The information from MFSEWS makes special reference to the XVIII Central American Climate Outlook Forum held in Belize from April 18-21, 2006.

This has led the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) to warn in its latest report (24-05-2006) that above normal cyclonic activity is 80% more likely in the Atlantic region in 2006.

In particular, the current concerns include that the planting of this year's crops will be affected by lack of suitable drained land for this purpose. A worry is also the high cost of fuel and relative high cost of basic food stuffs. In the UK, the plight of Guatemalans more than six months on from Stan has been picked up by AlertNet and to a lesser extent The Guardian.

With winter (our summer) approaching in Guatemala, many of the communities affected by Hurricane Stan in October 2005 are worried that the work of rebuilding is going too slowly. Articles are starting to appear in the Guatemalan press that reinforce this worry that communities are still all too vulnerable to winter flooding.

Recently the following video was posted on the internet by guatemalago.org of what it was like in Panajachel when Stan struck last year. The pictures are very sobering, and help bring home to those who were not there, what it was like for those Guatemalans who felt the full force of the hurricane and its consequences.