In October 2005, Guatemala felt the impact of the immensely powerful tropical storm 'Stan', with the country's rural areas the worst affected. The administrative regions of Solola, San Marcos, Suchitepequez, Escuintla, Santa Rosa and Jutiapa bore the brunt of the devastating impact of widespread flash flooding and mudslides.

The torrential rains proved especially damaging to the poorest members of the Guatemalan population, who lost practically everything they owned. Such was the impact of the catastrophe that the government was forced to issue a nationwide state of emergency.

According to the country's Disaster Response Coordinator (CONRED), more than 500 communities were affected. The government's own figures placed the number of people affected at 3.5 million. According to UNICEF, children and adolescents were worst affected, accounting for more than 50 percent of the victims.

One of the direct consequences of the continual rainfall was the disruption to electricity and drinking water supplies in inland areas. The landslides blocked off vast swathes of the road network, leaving hundreds of communities isolated. Unsanitary conditions caused by the flooding resulted in an increase in health problems, particularly diseases of the skin, stomach and respiratory system.

An Action Aid team, along with members of its sister organization Adejuc, were quick to arrive at the scene to put an Emergency Plan in place and help coordinate the urgent dispatching of food, clothing and medical aid to 23,800 people.