US launches food aid for Guatemala

The United States has pledged 15 million dollars in food aid for Guatemala, in a bid to help thousands of families out of hunger and poor nutrition.

A severe drought has hit the nation's eastern region hardest, leaving many people suffering from malnutrition. It has reduced the harvest of staples like maize and beans by up to half.

The United States' Agency for International Development launched the project in Chiquimula on Thursday.

US ambassador to Guatemala, Stephen Mcfarland, said, "Fifteen million dollars has started to be used to buy about 7,600 tonnes of food, rice, beans, corn, soya, oil which will be sent to some 27,000 families living along the dry corridor."

The main beneficiaries will be children under the age of five, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

Raquel Rafael, a local resident, said, "I feel happy and we are all excited to have this kind and generous person (McFarland) who is acting for our benefit to provide food for us."

The drought has prompted the government to deliver food packages to six times as many families as last year.

Much of Guatemala's prime agricultural land is given over to large coffee, sugar and African palm plantations.