More than five million people in Guatemala need humanitarian assistance. Much of the population live with the effects of organised crime, food insecurity and extreme weather events.
NRC in Guatemala
Notice: NRC's Guatemala country office closed operations in December 2025
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) opened its offices in Guatemala in 2022. Between 2022 and 2025, we assisted more than 29,000 people displaced by widespread violence, refugees and migrants – many of them transiting towards the north – and others in need of protection. We also helped children outside the education system to return to school. Although the humanitarian needs remain, in December 2025 we were forced to close our operations in the country due to financial cuts to humanitarian aid.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) opened its offices in Guatemala in 2022. Between 2022 and 2025, we assisted more than 29,000 people displaced by widespread violence, refugees and migrants – many of them transiting towards the north – and others in need of protection. We also helped children outside the education system to return to school. Although the humanitarian needs remain, in December 2025 we were forced to close our operations in the country due to financial cuts to humanitarian aid.
What’s happening in Guatemala?
Corruption, drug trafficking and gang violence are widespread in Guatemala and drive many families from their homes every year. Equally frightening is the threat from hurricanes and other disasters – like Tropical Storm Julia, which caused dangerous flash flooding in October 2022 and forced whole communities to evacuate.
Along with this internal displacement, Guatemala has seen a lot of mixed migration in recent years, with people fleeing from nearby countries like Venezuela – as well as from other countries around the world – in search of safety and better opportunities. The International Organization for Migration registered 105,000 people in transit in Guatemala between April and September 2023.
Poverty is entrenched and hunger rife across the whole country, but the most vulnerable groups are indigenous communities, women and children. In the departments of Alta Verapaz, Chiquimula, Huehuetenango, Sacatepéquez and Sololá, between 30 and 45 per cent of the population are in dire need of food assistance.
Our response
NRC Guatemala worked with our partners in the following areas:
- Water, sanitation and hygiene – teaching good hygiene practices and renovating schools with proper water and sanitation facilities.
- Livelihoods and food security – providing emergency cash and food assistance, as well as offering training in climate-smart agricultural practices and food production systems.
- Education – identifying out-of-school children and helping them to access education, including flexible learning programmes.
- Protection from violence – helping communities to recognise protection risks and develop effective self-protection strategies.
- Information, counselling and legal assistance – providing advice on asylum procedures, international protection, and housing, land and property rights.
Download the factsheet for NRC in North of Central America and Mexico
Our operations
NRC office established: 2022
Areas of operation: Guatemala City, Alta Verapaz, San Marcos and Chiquimula departments
Country Director: Ernesto Lorda
Contact: nrc.ncaym@nrc.no
Our impact
In 2024, we assisted 18,387 people through our programmes in Guatemala:
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2,272Education
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3,704Livelihoods and food security
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7,313Protection from violence
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6,552Information, counselling and legal assistance
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2,269Water, sanitation and hygiene
Note: some people received more than one type of assistance.
