On November 5th, 2020, a landslide triggered by six days and nights of constant rain brought on by Hurricane Eta buried the village of Queja in San Cristobal Verapaz, Guatemala, along with an estimated 58 people. Within a few days, the municipality's mayor, Ovidio Choc Pop, declared the area a "campo santo," an uninhabitable graveyard ending all rescue efforts and recovering only eight bodies.

Guatemala's poor infrastructure significantly impacts the highlands, home to farming and indigenous communities. When natural disasters occur, they destroy houses and roads and uproot the crops that provide food and income for these communities. Those left with nothing often migrate North to the US, chasing "The American Dream", further risking their lives. The US does not have a policy recognizing climate refugees, making their situation even more precarious.

The 2020 hurricanes, Eta and Iota, had the most impact on Central America, affecting approximately 7.5 million people and forcing Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala to declare states of emergency. I saw parallels to my experience documenting the stories of families recovering from the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico nine months after landfall in June 2018. According to the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, 135,000 people relocated to the states within six months post-Maria.

These stories are a powerful reminder of marginalized communities' ongoing struggle in the wake of natural disasters. Their plight highlights how a lack of equity and representation leaves them without effective agency, struggling to survive and rebuild. It is essential to remember that natural disasters have a lasting impact, and we must provide support to ensure that communities can recover and thrive. By highlighting these stories, I hope to bring attention to the need for action and change in the face of climate-related disasters.

>> Click here to watch the project video - DO NOT COME

It was a pleasure to judge the Excellence in Multimedia Storytelling Award for this year. I was impressed with the diversity of content and how the artists wanted to challenge the usual norms of how visual storytelling is delivered to a viewer/audience. The number of applicants exemplifies that the art of visual storytelling is still vibrant and relevant in society.

Stories from Central America are underreported. Los Olvidados, by Harvey Castro, captures Guatemalans as they work to rebuild their lives following a natural disaster. Mr. Castro’s photography delves into the community and shows viewers how despite the combination of poor infrastructure and climate change devastates their country, the people find a way to persevere.

Mr. Castro captures their vulnerability without being exploitive.

- Sandra M. Stevenson • Deputy Director of Photography, The Washington Post