The United States has donated a mobile, reusable panel bridge to Guatemala to help improve the country's disaster and emergency response capabilities. The handover took place at the Guatemalan Army Corps of Engineers facilities, with U.S. Ambassador Tobin Bradley and Brigadier General Chad Bridges from the Arkansas National Guard presenting the bridge to Guatemala’s Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres Naturales (CONRED).
According to the announcement, this donation is part of ongoing efforts by the United States to support its partners in the hemisphere under policies that aim to strengthen both domestic capacity and regional collaboration. The initiative is intended to ensure access to key resources for disaster response, reduce illegal migration linked to natural disasters, and support economic development by improving regional connectivity.
The bridge measures 60 meters in length and about seven meters in width, providing two lanes capable of supporting various types of vehicles. It is designed for quick deployment so that responders can reach isolated areas after disasters occur. This will allow for faster delivery of relief supplies and could also facilitate investment opportunities for both U.S. and Guatemalan businesses.
Valued at $2.1 million (Q16 million), the donation was made through U.S. Southern Command’s Humanitarian Assistance Program and coordinated by the U.S. Embassy Guatemala Military Group. The bridge will be kept in CONRED’s Disaster and Relief Warehouses for use during emergencies.
“We’ve seen time and again the importance of speed and access in the hours after a disaster. This bridge will enhance the ability of Guatemalan responders to quickly get help to their citizens in need,” said Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander of SOUTHCOM. “This donation is another example of the United States and Guatemala working together to save lives, strengthen disaster preparedness and enhance stability and prosperity in Guatemala and the region.”
U.S. Southern Command’s Humanitarian Assistance Program has collaborated with countries across Latin America and the Caribbean for decades on projects aimed at strengthening emergency response infrastructure such as warehouses, operation centers, shelters, and fire stations.
Photos from this event are available online.