Guatemala: Hunger Threatens 400,000 Families
Guatemala's
President Alvaro Colom declared a state of public
emergency, as food shortages threaten up to 400,000
families in the country.
The
move is intended to mobilise international aid and
resources to combat the crisis, attributed mainly to
a severe drought and the global economic recession.
A
United Nations official asserted last week that
hunger in Guatemala was a result of unequal
distribution of wealth.
Aid
workers in the country have also reported that a
decline in funds sent home by Guatemalans living in
the United States is making it harder for poor local
families to afford food.
More
than 460 people have died from hunger in Guatemala
this year, at least 25 of whom were children.
Panos/
Qasim/ Austeen