Taiwan has announced it will be providing food aid to Guatemala to alleviate the effects of a drought that has destroyed crops around the country.
The drought in Guatemala has become so severe that 16 provinces have declared a state of emergency. 1.2 million Guatemalans, nearly half of them under the age of five, are facing serious food shortages as crops around the country fail.
To help deal with the crisis, Taiwan plans to deliver food aid to Guatemala over a five-month period. Under the aid plan, each household affected by the drought will be able to receive 100 pounds of corn, corn flour, and soy beans per month. Affected households will also be entitled to 30 pounds of black beans per month.
Taiwan is a frequent aid donor to Guatemala. Previously, Taiwan also helped with reconstruction efforts following a serious earthquake in 2012. Guatemala’s Vice President Roxana Baldetti thanked Taiwanese Ambassador Adolfo Sun for Taiwan’s humanitarian assistance to the Guatemalan People.