UN Announces $20 Million More for Drought Relief in Honduras

The United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Honduras, Alejandro Álvarez, announced a new aid package of $20 million to help mitigate the effects of the ongoing drought. This brings the total resources mobilized by the UN for the climate emergency in Honduras to $86 million.

"A donation of around 20 million dollars will be received by the country to cope with this drought," Álvarez stated during the I Congress for Food Security of the Peoples. The event, held in the Honduran Parliament, aimed to promote a state policy to address the water crisis.

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A donation of around 20 million dollars will be received by the country to cope with this drought.

The Secretariat of Risk Management and National Contingencies (COPECO) recently declared a red alert in 75 municipalities in the central and southern regions, known as the Dry Corridor. An additional 71 municipalities are under yellow alert due to the drought, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon, which has severely impacted crops and livestock.

The red alert signifies the highest level of emergency, requiring all necessary actions to protect human lives. The yellow alert urges preparedness for a potential worsening of the situation. COPECO indicated that these alerts will remain in effect indefinitely due to the meteorological drought conditions, characterized by warmer and drier weather than usual.

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resources "will never be enough"

Álvarez explained that the UN had previously mobilized approximately $62 million to assist 33 municipalities, 11 of which were under red alert. Subsequently, an additional $4 million from the Regional Humanitarian Fund was allocated to five municipalities as anticipatory action. He expressed confidence that further resources could be released to support small producers and that Honduras might receive additional donations.

While acknowledging the government's "serious work" in responding to the climate situation, Álvarez cautioned that resources "will never be enough." He stressed the need to prioritize assistance, noting that the impact varies across municipalities and communities. The UN coordinator emphasized that the response must be "multisectoral," addressing food security, water access, nutrition, health, and agricultural production protection. He highlighted the severe impact on access to potable water and the importance of providing filters, purification plants, wells, and pumps. Protecting crops to prevent further deterioration of food security and salvaging harvests were also key priorities.

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The response must be "multisectorial"