Central America's Dry Corridor Crisis: June 2016.pdf

1.6 million people are food insecure in the Dry Corridor of Central America, with 3.5 million in need of humanitarian assistance out of a total population of 10.5 million. Crop harvests have been reduced by 50-90%, resulting in a USD 17 million funding gap.

The drought has led to a third consecutive year of decreased harvests in Guatemala, with 915,000 people moderately to severely food insecure. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food has reported 82,000 tonnes of maize lost, representing a total financial loss of USD 30.8 million, and 118,200 tonnes of black beans lost, representing a total financial loss of USD 102.3 million.

In Honduras, 1.3 million people need humanitarian assistance, with 461,000 people suffering from moderate or severe food insecurity. Crop losses are in excess of 60% in maize growing areas and 80% in bean growing areas.

In El Salvador, 192,000 people need humanitarian assistance, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock estimating 85,858 ha of maize lost or damaged. The current impact of drought on the economy has increased to approximately USD 100 million in 2015, including investment losses estimated at USD 29 million.

FAO is implementing emergency response programs in Guatemala and Honduras, targeting 7,000 beneficiary families and promoting actions aimed at reducing vulnerability and increasing livelihoods' resilience in the agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries sectors. A Central Emergency Response Fund project is being implemented in El Salvador to rehabilitate and diversify the agricultural production of 17,785 people affected by drought.

The weakening of El Niño has triggered La Niña, associated with above-normal rainfall during June to August, which could benefit the primera harvests. However, the probability of excessive rainfall coupled with a more active Atlantic hurricane season could have serious consequences for the agriculture sector.