Half the children in Guatemala are malnourished

In Guatemala, almost half of all children under five are chronically malnourished. Due to climate change and a lack of social safety net, the number of malnourished children is constantly increasing. Oxfam is on the ground to help the most vulnerable but urgently needs donor support to reach more people.

Photo: Pablo Tosco / Oxfam Intermón

Guatemala has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition in the world - 46.5% of children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition and the number is increasing. Climate change, combined with a weak social safety net and the COVID-19 pandemic, has made the situation in the country acute. For a malnourished child, the risk of not surviving is high. Families in Guatemala are in urgent need of humanitarian support.

Silveria's family is one of those who need urgent help to survive. She is 28 and lives in Guatemala with her four children. The children's father is in Mexico to earn money for the family, but his temporary job does not pay enough to support them. The youngest child, a boy, suffers from malnutrition and Silveria fears he will not survive.

"You get scared and wonder if your child will die. But since we have no money, there is no way for him to get better."

Silveria, mother of four in Guatemala

Due to prolonged drought in parts of the country, food is difficult to grow and to obtain - especially for poor people. Families rarely have enough food to eat and sometimes the only food they have is tortilla bread with salt.

"They are not being fed. Tortilla with salt is not enough to feed a child. A child needs to eat more, but we have nothing more. We have to give him more - he has to have more food so that he gains weight. But we are poor, we cannot afford it."

Silveria, mother of four in Guatemala

Oxfam is on the ground in Guatemala, providing both emergency food aid and investing in long-term efforts against hunger. Among other things, Oxfam supports various health centers such as the Jocotán Health Center in the Chiquimula district, which treats children with malnutrition. By making a donation, you can provide life-saving assistance to people like Silverias. Your gift can save lives.