WFP Press Briefing - Geneva
Following the massive landslide which
killed 30 people last Thursday (12 Sept) in Guatemala, WFP is carrying
out a rapid needs assessment with UNICEF and government agencies.
WFP is providing therapeutic food in the area for malnourished children as well as supplementary food rations for their families. Three mothers who were receiving food assistance from WFP died in the mudslide. In total, WFP is assisting 22 children suffering severe and moderate malnutrition, as well as 160 malnourished families in San Lucas Toliman, the municipality where El Porvenir is located.
Families affected by the mudslide are living either in temporary quarters in the city centre, or at the local hospital while others have moved temporarily to the neighbouring town of Totoya. Many families lost not only their houses, but also their crops and small farm animals.
WFP is monitoring malnutrition levels closely. WFP currently has enough available stocks in the area for nearly one month.
Guatemala, with a population of 12 million inhabitants, has the highest rate of chronic malnutrition among children in Latin America. According to the government, at least 120,000 children suffer from some form of malnutrition.
Guatemala is a very poor country where emaciated children are common.
Parents are reluctant to bring their sick children to a hospital or a therapeutic centre, because they are afraid that they might be kidnapped.
Guatemala has the highest rate of adoptions, most of which are legal, although there is an illegal adoptions market.
Many of the therapeutic centres are located far away and parents lack money for the trip. Even if they can afford the bus fare, they are reluctant to leave their children for the few weeks necessary to cure them.
Malnourished mothers give birth to babies suffering from malnutrition because they don't have enough milk.
The country has been going through successive economic shocks: two years of a severe drought and two years of a coffee crisis. Although there is rain right now, it is not enough nor is it in the worst affected regions.
Thanks to its emergency operation, WFP has been able to save the lives of 7,000 children suffering from severe malnutrition since last May and will continue until at least February, during this very difficult period before the harvest. WFP is helping a total of 100,000 people - feeding not only the children but also their families, to ensure everybody has enough food.
WFP - as well as other UN agencies - is concerned that further rains could cause new mudslides and flooding in the region. The mudslide on September 12 completely destroyed 15 houses and damaged another 9.
Contact Information
This is a summary of what was said by WFP spokesperson Christiane Berthiaume - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at the press briefing, on 20 September 2002, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
For more information:
tel: +41-22-9178 564
fax:+41-22-917 8087