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Drought in Guatemala

Countries
Guatemala
Sources
ECHO
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ECHO Daily Flash 15/02/2013

(extract)

Drought in Guatemala (ECHO)

■The Mesoamerican Food Security Early Warning System (MFEWS) expects that the food shortages in the dry areas of Guatemala will start in March, which is two months earlier than in normal years. Guatemala, which has the fourth highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world, has suffered an intense dry period in 2012. The dry places most at risk are Chiquimula, Jalapa and some areas of Baja Verapaz, situated in the so-called "dry corridor" (centre and south-east of the country). According to FAO, families have stored some reserves, but these will be insufficient to cover the lean period up to the next harvest (July-August).

■ECHO has allocated EUR 1 million to respond to the drought in Guatemala (together with another million in response to the 7 November earthquake in the western part of the country) and is closely following the evolution of the situation.