The Honduran government on Wednesday placed 80 percent of the country, including the capital, on drought alert as El Nino scorches harvests and causes livestock to die of thirst.
Peru last week declared a state of emergency in a third of its cities over El Nino and said intense heat and rain could also cause havoc for food production.
The measures taken by the Honduran government covers 234 municipalities that have been affected by low reservoir levels, crop losses, and livestock deaths, threatening food security.
The UN World Food Programme recently estimated that Central America would be the region worse affected by hunger exacerbated by El Nino.
“This crisis will last until March or April of next year,” said Honduran President Nasry Asfura, announcing a series of emergency measures, including the drilling of new wells, construction of new reservoirs and delivery of food to the most critical areas.
