Press Interpreter

11/16/05 -- With the support of the international community, the [Guatemalan] government can continue delivering supplies to those affected by Hurricane Stan, assured Roberto González Díaz-Durán.

The availability of food provisions for the next four months lets us affirm that the threat is under control, according to the Coordinator of the Reconstruction Program.

Roberto González Díaz-Durán, manager of the Presidency and coordinator of the National Reconstruction Program, strongly denied that those affected by Hurricane Stan could face a famine in the coming months.

Addressing the concern expressed by members of the UN World Food Programme, González pointed out that the threat of a famine would be an extremely delicate matter if measures to counteract it were not taken, but in this case important, collective efforts of the MInistry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Nutrition (MAGA) were being made.

He noted that such actions included the distribution of food supplies consisting of a quintal* of corn, 30 pounds of beans, 20 of rice, and cooking oil. Moreover, the delivery of a vitamin soy drink, of the Incaparina** variety, has just started.

González said that the World Food Programme is contributing about 20 million tons of food with nutritional characteristics similar to the supplies MAGA is delivering, whose cost is expected to be some 14 million U.S. dollars.

Further, the Department of Social Works of the President's Wife (SOSEP), the Order of Malta, Cáritas, Care International and other organizations have joined in the relief efforts. The Department of Nutritional Security will be the office that coordinates all the efforts being undertaken.

Famine is a threat that, day by day, is kept fully under control with the efforts of the aforementioned organizations and MAGA, (González) assured.

Nutrition is the Priority

Food and water are the priority, there's not a minute to waste, and no effort will be spared, Roberto González Díaz-Durán emphasized.

He said that MAGA has secured 4,000 tons of corn, 400 of beans donated by the Government of Mexico, and 300 more obtained with its own resources to attend to the affected population for four months.

He added that as the days go by the food supply should increase, coming from international aid and the re-orientation of resources in order to realize the goal.

[Full Article]

* A quintal is a hundred-count, a measure dating back to classical times. In the U.S., a quintal corresponds to 100 kilograms - about 220 pounds - when referring to grain. In other countries, a quintal is 50 kilograms, or roughly 112 pounds. I'm not sure which one the Guatemalan government uses...

** Incaparina is a vegetable-based nutritional drink that is heavily enriched with vitamins and minerals. International food aid organizations often use it to treat malnutrition.

[This article appeared in Diario de Centro América, which bills itself as the official voice of the Republic of Guatemala]

By René Rodriguez

--Translated By Chris Drake

Go to original article:

http://www.dca.gob.gt/nacpag3.htm