UN launches humanitarian response plans for three Central American countries

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and its partners in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have launched this year's Humanitarian Response Plans to assist 2.2 million people in need, seeking a total of 306 million U.S. dollars, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

The three Central American countries continue to face food insecurity, extreme weather events and mixed movement of people, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at the daily briefing.

In El Salvador, the plan aims to assist 400,000 of the most vulnerable people, which requires 67 million dollars. In Guatemala, the crisis is most severe in areas impacted by climate shocks and human mobility, and the plan seeks 100 million dollars to help 1 million people there, he said.

In Honduras, where violence and climate-related risks continue amid high levels of poverty and inequality, the response plan, in collaboration with national authorities, asks for nearly 140 million dollars to support 800,000 vulnerable people, said the spokesman.