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09/10/2002
Rabinal (Guatemala)
Food aid in the drought damaged area
Following the prolonged drought in the area of Low Verapaz,
more than 150.000 people are suffering hunger.
The Community has started a food aid programme.
 For about one year a severe drought has damaged the area of Low Verapaz, located at about 150 km from City of Guatemala. More than 150.000 people are therefore suffering for a severe lack of food. Among the reasons for this situation there is probably the indiscriminate deforestation which has taken place in the recent years.
The most struck Municipality is Rabinal, an ancient urban conglomeration, founded in 1537 by Bartolom� de las Casas, and known because during the civil war it has been the place of the R�o Negro massacre. Rabinal at the present has estimated 24.200 inhabitants but recently, because of the drought, many of them have moved towards the capital city.
Starting from the month of March, the Community of Sant'Egidio in City of Guatemala has set up an alimentary aid programme in collaboration with the "Hermanas de la Caridad", who run a dispensary and a clinic.
Through the Community, it has been possible to carry out a �twinning� between the well-to-do families of the capital and the people of Rabinal living in the poorest conditions.
The answer has been surprising and generous. We have started to go regularly in the village bringing food aid. Also the youngest: the "Country of the Rainbow", have been involved in this solidarity initiative.
During the last visit in Rabinal, at the beginning of September, we were asked to intervene in two other villages. The Community, then, has started again to look for funds and for� new friends of the poor, so that the help can reach everybody.
Monica Escobar
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