Communities in Toledo Launch Emergency Relief Efforts Against Drought and Fires

Local organizations in the Toledo District have launched a relief and restoration initiative against the severe drought and rampant forest fires near the communities. As a result, communities in the Toledo District have suffered devastating losses. A statement issued on Wednesday by the Julian Cho Society, Toledo Alcaldes Association, and Maya Leaders Alliance stated, “Thousands of acres of forests and wildlife have been destroyed in this inferno. The devastation is insurmountable, beyond anything we have seen before.”

Despite efforts from communities and partners to contain fires, many were uncontrollable due to the severity of the conditions. According to the press statement, this prompted organizations like the Julian Cho Society, Toledo Alcaldes Association, Maya Leaders Alliance and its partners to “launch a forest fire relief, restoration, and prevention initiative.”

This initiative includes distributing food supplies to aid three hundred and seventy-two families from thirty-two villages and distributing seeds for replanting damaged crops. The initiative plans to continue supporting farmers in restoring their agroforestry farms and replanting forests.