The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is responding to the devastating and ongoing eruption of Guatemala’s Fuego volcano, immediately supporting the aid efforts of the Guatemalan Jewish community as they distribute critically needed relief items to those in the hardest-hit areas and plan for the rebuilding of schools and clinics. JDC is in continuous touch with the Jewish community to monitor changing needs on the ground in preparation for recovery and rebuilding projects, including deploying its experts to develop recovery programs. To support JDC’s response in Guatemala, visit: http://donate.jdc.org/guatemalarelief

“We join with those around the world mourning the loss of life in Guatemala and are privileged to join with the Guatemalan Jewish community as it quickly moves to provide life-saving aid and rebuild their country even stronger than before. Our work today underscores not just the value of tikkun olam – repairing a broken world – but the sanctity of all human life and the role of the Jewish people as global citizens responding to tragedies that impact our neighbors and loved ones,” said JDC CEO David Schizer.

With longstanding ties with the Jewish community of Guatemala, JDC activated its emergency response network to contact both the Guatemalan Jewish community and other NGO partners to assess immediate needs and implement a response following the eruption of the volcano, which killed more than 70 people with nearly 200 people still missing. The second round of eruptions in the last 24 hours is contributing to a rising death toll and 1.7 million people are currently affected by the disaster. JDC, as always, cooperates with local Jewish communities, NGO partners, and Israel, in deploying a robust response to such disasters.

JDC’s disaster relief programs are funded by special appeals of the Jewish Federations of North America and tens of thousands of individual donors to JDC. 

In the last year, JDC and its partners have responded to disasters and crises in Mexico, the Caribbean, Sri Lanka, and East Africa and has continued its post-disaster development work in Nepal, Philippines, and Haiti. JDC also provides ongoing humanitarian aid to refugees in Europe and the Middle East.

JDC relief activities are coordinated with the U.S. Department of State, USAID, the Israeli government, Interaction, and the United Nations, as well as local and international partners.

About JDC

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization. JDC works in more than 70 countries and in Israel to alleviate hunger and hardship, rescue Jews in danger, create lasting connections to Jewish life, and provide immediate relief and long-term development support for victims of natural and man-made disasters. For more information, visit www.JDC.org.