Guatemala Food Security Outlook Update September 2012
Attachments
Prolonged canícula affects households in the eastern and central regions of the country
Key points
The Government of Guatemala (GoG) is implementing a response plan to provide food assistance to households at greatest risk of food and nutritional insecurity, particularly those affected by this year’s prolonged canícula in the eastern and central regions of the country, as well as several other localized areas. The GoG is calling for the distribution of 1,950 MT of food assistance during the month of September, which should help to offset the food deficit until the beginning of the high season for unskilled labor. In light of the above factors, the poorest households in the affected areas are expected to maintain their food insecurity classification at Stressed (IPC Phase 2) through the end of the year.
For September, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare projects a slight increase in the cases of acute malnutrition throughout the entire country. Beginning in early October, projections call for a reduction in the number of acute malnutrition cases for the remaining part of the year, in line with seasonal trends.
Rainfall monitoring will be important in October, particularly during the critical period of crop growth in the postrera agricultural season. Harvests from this season have the potential to improve food availability for households as well as the national market. The projected scenario for the last quarter of the year assumes normal rainfall. As a result, the dry corridor has been classified in IPC Phase 1 (None/Minimal acute food insecurity).