El Nino leaves Central America hungry and dry
A punishing drought linked to the strongest El Nino in 40 years is pushing communities across Central America into deeper hunger, reported AFP. Fields that should be thick with corn lie bare, livestock carcasses are scattered across parched farmland, and families are cutting back on meals as food prices climb. More than 10 million people live in the Central American Dry Corridor, where 80% of small-scale producers are poor, according to United Nations figures.
The impact of this year's El Nino has still come as a shock to communities accustomed to extreme weather. The crisis extends beyond Honduras, with neighboring El Salvador facing a shortage of water for the first time. Livestock farmers in San Lorenzo are reducing their herds to avoid losing animals, with some already sold. Governments have declared national emergencies, but residents are relying on assistance from non-governmental organizations.
The drought is expected to peak towards the end of the year, with the threat potentially extending into 2027.
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