LatinNews Daily - 17 September 2026

*Guatemala’s government led by President Bernardo Arévalo has announced that it will implement an action plan against drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which will address food insecurity and crop losses and benefit over 1.2m families over the next four months. The strategy includes Q500m (US$65m) earmarked for food assistance under the leadership of the national coordinator for disaster reduction (Conred) and through the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP). Guatemala’s social development minister, Abelardo Pinto, announced the strategy contemplates four stages and five main axes, and involves the ministries of social development (Mides) and agriculture (Maga), along with the presidency’s secretariat of food and nutritional security (Sesan) and Conred. It includes plans to send out food packages between November and December which will include 100 pounds (lb) of corn, 30lb of beans, and 10lb of rice. It also includes plans to monitor prices and availability of food, surveillance of acute malnutrition cases, and tracking water quality in the prioritised municipalities. On 11 September Vice President Karin Herrera announced that a red alert had been declared in municipalities in Chiquimula and Jutiapa departments, which are in the Trifinio area, which is located on the border area with El Salvador and Honduras, as a result of drought. This is the latest sign of efforts in Central America to address drought, with Honduras, Panama, and El Salvador having also announced measures in response to its effects.

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