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food crises
¨The President of the Republic of Guatemala has declared a state of public calamity due to the high level of malnutrition caused by the loss of crops caused by irregular rain, dry and hot conditions as well as high food and fuel prices. According to the authorities, approximately 54,000 families have been suffering from food shortages due to dry weather conditions causing the loss of their corn and bean crops. ¨
Relief Web
“Guatemala has had high indices of poverty and malnutrition for decades, provoked by a long history of inequality. There is food, but those who go hungry have no money to buy it.” President Colom United Nations
¨According to the United Nations World Food Programme, Guatemala has the fourth highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world, and almost half of all Guatemalan children are malnourished. Plans are being made to send 20 tons of nutritional biscuits and emergency supplies for 54,000 families.¨Toybox
¨A fortified food blend called VitaCereal™ has been a mainstay for young children and mothers in Guatemala, where almost half of all children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition. But the nutrition programme may be suspended for lack of funds.¨ World Food Program
gang violence
¨Polanco said that so far in 2009 102 drivers have been murdered, including 14 last month and 7 so far in September.
Polanco said in remarks to reporters that if the killings of bus drivers continue at the current rate for the rest of the year, 2009 will be the most violent year yet for the sector.
The Association of Urban Bus Companies says that owners of the 1,300 buses running in the capital pay gangs an average of $395 a week per vehicle to avoid attacks on the drivers.
Guatemala, with a murder rate of 17 a day, is one of the most dangerous countries in Latin America.¨ Latin American Herald Tribune
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Gringa [or close enough] in Guatemala 