Central America reeling under severe drought

Several countries in central America have been hit by a severe drought in the past few months. The drought has killed thousands of cattle and destroyed crops. People are forced to travel long distances in search of water.

The countries witnessing the drought include Nicaragua, Honduras, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador. The Nicaraguan government has announced that the drought is the most severe the country has seen since 1976, says a report published in the website West Australian. It also says that agriculture minister of Central American countries discussed the issue through a videoconference on August 6. Governments of Nicaragua and El Salvador have also set up funds to help out farmers. 

Climate Prediction Center’s Central America Hazards Outlook August 7 – August 13, 2014

• Dryness worsens throughout many areas of Central America.
  
  

Experts blame the onset of the El Nino weather phenomenon for the drought. El Nino increases temperatures of the Pacific ocean and can triggered drought.
 
As far as losses are concerned, the drought has killed 2,500 cattle in Nicaragua and another 700,000 are in danger, says the report. The number of dead cattle in Colombia is 30,000. In Honduras, 70 per cent of corn crop has been destroyed.

About 10 million people live in the drought affected areas, says a 2013 study by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.