A prolonged drought period caused by El Niño is also affecting the food and nutritional security of the most vulnerable population in the southern region of Honduras, as well as the provision of water. In this region food production is limited due to high environmental degradation, periodic unsuitable climate conditions, and low soil fertility and water absorption capacity. Due to low response capacity and the current lack of alternatives of income generation, due to the severe economic crisis, the situation is jeopardizing the population's food and nutritional security. It is estimated that 7,000 households are in severe food insecurity.

In response to the severe food insecurity, CERF has allocated $1.5 million to humanitarian agencies in Honduras. The World Food Programme (WFP) will use $825,000 to provide emergency food assistance for approximately 21,000 people affected by food and nutritional insecurity in the southern region. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will use $149,000 for emergency therapeutic feeding to 800 severely acute malnourished children and $142,000 for water, sanitation and hygiene programmes for 10,000 people. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) will reactivate livelihoods of 3,200 small farmers affected by drought in the southern region with $281,000. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization(WHO) will use $139,000 for emergency nutritional surveillance and dissemination of critical health information to 70,000 families, including children, pregnant and nursing women affected by drought.

CERF Funding by Country (2009) - Project Detail Honduras (01-01-2009 to 31-12-2009)