OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Central America - Drought
22 November 2002


WFP has approved a new, USD 66 million, Protracted Relief and Recovery
Operation (PRRO) in Central America to assist 2 million people affected by
drought and coffee crisis

Regional Overview

1.  Triggered by recurring natural disasters, food insecurity has placed
rural and urban populations in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and
Nicaragua in a crisis situation. Almost 9 million people have been
affected in the last five years. The situation continues to prevent
marginalized people, such as indigenous people, the landless and
households headed by women, from escaping poverty and hunger.
(www.wfp.org/index.asp?section=7_1)

2.  According to the World Food Programme (WFP), results of recent
nutritional surveys demonstrate that malnutrition is particularly high
among marginalized people living in drought-prone areas with poor access
to food and water. Income disparities in the four countries are among the
highest in the region, and chronic malnutrition rates in Central America
range from 24 to 48 percent. The WFP Regional Bureau for Latin America and
the Caribbean reports that up to 1.5 million farmers and their families
are running short of food, with 775,798 facing severe food security
problems. WFP currently assists 1.575 million people in Central America.

3.  The WFP Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) approved on 24
October 2002 will provide assistance to an additional 690,000 people per
year over a three year period, bringing the overall number of people
assisted to over 2 million.


PRRO
Targeted Food Assistance for People
Affected by Shocks and for the Recovery of Livelihoods
Period: 2003 - 2006

    Country         People living in the      Food required
                      drought corridor             (MT)

    El Salvador         1.3 million               22,260
    Guatemala           2.5 million               44,520
    Honduras            2.2 million               34,776
    Nicaragua           2.6 million               28,395
    Total               8.6 million              129,951


4.  With the support of the Governments in the region, WFP is seeking USD
56,622,080 from the donor community to assist the targeted beneficiaries.

5.  For more information please contact:

    Ms. Zoraida Mesa
    Regional Director
    Latin America and the Caribbean (ODM)
    WFP
    Tel. + 505 266 2566
    Fax + 505 266 8043


At Country level:

    Ms. Claudia Von Roehl        Ms. Dorte Ellehammer
    Country Director             Country Director
    Honduras                     Guatemala
    Tel. + 504 231 0102          Tel. + 502 333 4897
    Fax + 504 232 6146           Fax + 502 333 7423

    Ms. Krystyna Bednarska       Mr. Jaime Vallaure
    Country Director             Country Director
    Nicaragua                    El Salvador
    Tel. + 505 266 8044          Tel. + 503 263 6144
    Fax + 505 268 4928           Fax + 503 263 1317



Press contact:

    Mr. Jordan Dey
    Regional Public Information Officer
    Latin America and the Caribbean (ODM)
    WFP
    Tel: + 571 346-0611 (Colombia)
    Email jordan.dey@wfp.org


6.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. E. Haegglund / Mr. R Mena / Ms. M. Kondo
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 32 99 / 14 55 / 19 97

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  (NYC)  Brian Grogan direct Tel. +1-212-963-1143


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