The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food for Peace Program, together with the World Food Programme, supports emergency food assistance in Guatemala

In coordination with national and local authorities, WFP will provide food assistance to Guatemalan families affected by the drought associated with El Niño. This assistance will help meet immediate food needs and prevent malnutrition.

“This assistance is made possible through the generous support of the American people via the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food for Peace Program,” said Andrew Stanhope, WFP Representative and Country Director in Guatemala. “Thanks to this partnership, we are able to reach the most vulnerable families and ensure their access to essential staple foods. Investing in food security today helps communities withstand future crises, protect their livelihoods, and reduce the risk of resorting to negative coping strategies, while creating opportunities to build a more resilient future.” 

The food commodities, grown by American farmers, will be distributed to communities in the departments of Huehuetenango, Quiché, Alta Verapaz, Izabal, and Chiquimula, benefiting more than 21,000 families through targeted food assistance interventions. Each food kit includes essential staple products to support household nutrition, including fortified rice, black beans, vegetable oil, and fortified supplementary food to help prevent malnutrition. 

WFP works closely with the Government of Guatemala, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES), the Secretariat of Food and Nutrition Security (SESAN), and the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), to ensure that assistance is delivered efficiently and transparently, based on vulnerability-focused targeting criteria and while avoiding duplication with government programs and those of other humanitarian actors. 

This intervention contributes to ongoing efforts to respond to rising acute food insecurity in Guatemala, while strengthening coordination between the Government and humanitarian partners operating in the country. 

#                       #                    #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of weather extremes.

Follow us on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, via @wfpguatemala