Request for IRA Allocation in Central America

Since March, due to El Nino, below-average rainfall and prolonged dry spells have increased moisture deficits along the Central American dry corridor. This has resulted in crop damage and loss in El Salvador, Guatamela, Honduras and Nicaragua. Moreover, the probabilty of further crop damage is high, threatening the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of poor households and increasing their vulnerability to food insecurity.

FEWSNET reports that a prolonged dry season negatively affected the first crop season of the year (May-August), causing crop shorfalls.  Agricultural losses will likely increases prices, and reduce work opportunities for day-labourers, thus, diminishing household incomes, food availability and accessiblity for poorer households.