Severe drought in Paraguay
24 October 2002

A two-year-long drought in Paraguay is threatening the west of the country with food shortages and disease. The affected communities have already used their food and water reserves which has made the need for assistance more urgent.

The lack of rain has delayed the planting of new crops in the western Paraguayan departments of Alto Paraguay, Boquerón and Canindeyú, which has given rise to fears of a prolonged period of hunger. To date 17 people have died because of diseases related to contaminated water and the population's health has been seriously affected by diarrhoea and dehydration.

In response, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching an appeal today for 418,000 Swiss francs (280,100 US dollars) to provide almost 6,000 people with essential food items for the next five months as well as clean water for the next three months.

"The long term purpose of this appeal is to increase the water storage capacity of the affected communities which will allow them to maintain water reserves in dry periods," says Rosa Marta Lobo, head of the International Federation regional delegation in Buenos Aires.

The appeal will also help the Paraguayan Red Cross address health issues by working to improve community and family hygiene practices.

"A silent disaster is unfolding in western Paraguay," said Luis Luna, International Federation programme coordinator for South America. "The response by international donors to this kind of disaster is normally very poor. But there are thousands of people affected. We can stop this suffering. And we must," he warns.

The Federation has already allocated 70,000 Swiss francs from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF).

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Eva M. Calvo, Press Officer Tel: + 41 22 730 43 57 / + 41 79 217 33 72
Duty phone: + 41 79 4163881

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.