Famine Rages Rainless
Guatemala
More than 50 communities
ail with famine in
drought-stricken eastern
Guatemala, namely the
child population.
Union Municipality Major
Daniel Humberto Sosa
admitted that it affects
several villages and
requested relief from
state-run and non
governmental
organizations (NGO).
Sosa said poor rainfall
led to the loss of crops
like beans, corn and
some greens, the staple
diet in the area and
with coffee as sole
source of labor from
October to February,
while the rest of the
year they must seek an
alternative income
source.
Ivan Mendoza, director
of the Health Ministry
Food Security Program,
said that 1.2 percent
among 2,500 children
surveyed are at high
risk and 12 percent are
at risk if things do not
improve.
UNICEF Official Jorge
Mejia Machuca called
malnutrition, affecting
50 percent the infants
under five, a top
challenge for the next
government.
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