Guatemala City. The EU new initiative supports the five strategic objectives of the Strategic Plan for Food Security and Nutrition (PESAN, Plan Estratégico de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional) from 2009-2012 and will benefit the entire Guatemalan population, with particular attention to the most vulnerable rural population. The donation of the European Union for this program amounts to 33.8 million Euros (about 400 million quetzals).
The President of Guatemala, Alvaro Colom, accompanied by the representative of the European Union in Guatemala, Rafael Señan Llarena, publicly presented the Program of Support to the National Policy on Food Security and Nutrition of Guatemala.
The event took place at the presidential palace, important members of the government where present: Juan Albero Fuentes Knight, Minister of Finance, Lily Caravantes, Presidential Secretary for Food Safety and Nutrition, and Karin Slowing, Secretary of Planning and Programming of the Presidency (SEGEPLAN), other government officials and members of the diplomatic corps, among others where present in this important event.
The representative of the European Union in Guatemala, Rafael Señan Llarena stated that the indicator of almost 50% of child malnutrition is surprising and shameful for the nation, considering that Guatemala is not as poor as many African nations. Guatemala is among the world's five countries with highest rates of malnutrition. He also stated that in some rural areas the indicator of malnutrition can be as high as nine of every ten children.
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The EU representative reflected on the causes of the high malnutrition in the country, "it is a problem caused by severe social inequality, a weak state, very low governmental budget and therefore a weak organizational and coordination response of the actions needed to tackle the problem.
He stated that the EU is willing to help the government fight the problem aiming for sustainable programs. Rafael Señan also explained that the donation of the EU is not a blank check, the EU will be monitoring the impact of the program.
The donation of the European Union for this program amounts to 33.8 million Euros (about 400 million quetzals).
The program, which will last three years, will benefit the entire Guatemalan population, with particular attention to the most vulnerable rural population.
This action is complemented by other measures launched recently by the European Union of short-term impact of humanitarian nature as an answer to the hunger crisis of last year.
The total contribution of the EU to strengthen food safety and nutrition in Guatemala is now about 600 million quetzals.
The new initiative will support the five strategic objectives of Guatemala's Strategic Plan for Food Security and Nutrition (PESAN) for the period of 2009-2012:
1.Foment food availability, with emphasis on basic grain production to increase the country's food self-sufficiency.
2. Promote the population's access to the basic food basket.
3. Strengthen education, information and communication on food and nutrition to improve food consumption, promote exclusive breastfeeding and contribute to the reduction of chronic malnutrition.
4. Increase the coverage and quality of health services, water, sanitation, family and community hygiene, to reduce chronic malnutrition.
5. Strengthen the institutional capacities of the National Food and Nutrition Security - SINASAN-and Civil Society to reduce food insecurity and nutrition.
With this new cooperative effort, the EU intends to support and strengthen the structural capacity of the Government of Guatemala. The purpose is to avoid the yearly food crisis that have happened in the past, and effectively combat the current rates of chronic malnutrition among Guatemalan children, one of the highest rates in the world.
Lily Caravantes, Presidential Secretary for Food Safety and Nutrition, stated that the desertification corridor (corridor seco) in Guatemala is expanding to the southern coast areas and the north of Peten. The country presents high levels of climatic vulnerability. She explained that with this important contribution of the EU, programs for food safety and security in Guatemala can change from being only emergency responses with short term focus, to start to build the pillars of a sustainable food safety and nutrition program.
In 2010 the hunger crisis and the number of people affected by bad crops is expected to increase if the problem is not addressed in a timely manner.
President Alvaro Colom thanked the European Union for their support, he stated that the amount of the donation was very important, but as important was the trust that the EU put in the government for the execution of the donation within the governments institutions.
The budget this year will be distributed among the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Work, Ministry of Economy and INFOM, (Institute of Foment of Municipalities).
For more information on EU programs in Guatemala got to:
http://www.delgtm.ec.europa.eu
Picture: Press Office EU Commission in Guatemala
