TEGUCIGALPA – On September 24 the U.S. Government announced $3.9 million in new food assistance funds to Honduras for those affected by drought and coffee rust. This assistance is part of a $10 million regional package to be distributed by the UN World Food Program, which will provide food assistance to close to 220,000 people in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Secretary of State John Kerry and USAID Associate Administrator Mark Feierstein announced the U.S. Government support during their meeting with the three foreign ministers at the UN General Assembly this week.
The award, provided through USAID’s Food for Peace program, will provide cash transfers and food vouchers to the most vulnerable families. USAID is currently working with 17,000 coffee growers in Honduras, helping them to apply the agricultural practices necessary to mitigate the impact and exposure to leaf rust. Through USAID, the U.S. Government has already provided $190,000 in support of some of the most affected communities hit by the drought in the Departments of Lempira, Intibucá and La Paz. As part of the Alliance for the Dry Corridor, the U.S. Government is contributing $35 million to lift 50,000 families out of poverty.
