Going hungry: Millions starving as Central America hit hard by drought

A severe drought has ravaged crops in Central America and as many as 2.81 million people are struggling to feed themselves, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday. The drought, which is also affecting South America, has been particularly hard on the so-called “dry corridor” of Central America, which includes southern Guatemala, northern Honduras and western El Salvador. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega recently allowed 40,000 tonnes of red beans and 73,500 tonnes of white corn to be imported to help lower prices.

The drought has killed us. We lost all our corn and beans.

Olman Funez, a 22-year-old farmer who lives in rural southern Honduras

Guatemala declared a state of emergency after 256,000 families lost their crop. Pea, green bean and broccoli farmers estimate losses of 30 to 40 per cent of their crop. The country’s coffee crop is largely unscathed but the national coffee association Anacafe said exports of arabica beans from Latin America, excluding Brazil, are down 3.2 per cent (or about 9,600 60kg bags) since this season began last year, with double-digit drops in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Mexico. While Central America produces about 10 per cent of the world’s coffee, growers there already are battling a fungus that has reduced their output. The world’s top coffee grower, Brazil, was hit with its own crop-damaging drought.

I am 60 years old, and this is the first time I have seen a crisis like this.

Jesus Samayoa, a farmer in Jutiapa, about 160 km from Guatemala City

Americas central america