UN Calls for Funds to Aid
Drought-Struck Guatemala
The United Nations called for funds to help
out Guatemala, which is finding it hard to
deal with the worst drought it has
experienced in the last 30 years, here on
Friday. This comes after an appeal in March
for financial assistance, went for the most
part, unreciprocated.
Elisabeth Byrs, Spokeswoman of the Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs, said, “This appeal of us$4.7
million (dollars), which is not enormous,
has received only three percent of
financing... not even a million dollars”.
She informed that Guatemala is in torment
due to what she called as their worst famine
in 30 years, adding that 2.7 million people
require urgent aid.
The previous plea, made on March 5, sought
financial aid for food, potable water,
health services and sanitary equipment for
an estimated 680,000 people.
The United Nations stated that the drought
will most likely persist, and possibly
worsen in the remaining months of 2010.
According to an estimate, 43% of Guatemalan
kids below age 5, have chronic malnutrition,
which is, in fact, one of the worst rates in
the world.
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