Child hunger at 'emergency' level in Central America

Malnutrition among Central American children is "a massive emergency" killing thousands every day and compromising the region's economic future, a
United Nations World Food Program official told AFP.

Pedro Medrano, the Food Program's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, said that countries in the region need only "political will" to deal with the chronic problem, which he said is costing their economies some six billion dollars per year.

"Child malnutrition is a massive emergency, because it is jeopardizing the future of Central American countries and of the Dominican Republic," said Medrano, speaking on the sidelines of the Inter-American Development Bank's annual meeting here.

"We believe that when a country has a 50 percent level of chronic malnutrition, we are talking about a national emergency, one that does not appear in the news media, but which means that ever day thousands of children are dying of malnutrition.

At the meeting, senior finance ministry officials for Central American nations and the Dominican Republic signed a document on Monday committing to eradicating chronic child malnutrition in their respective countries.

According to the IADB, it is the first time the nations commit to prioritize fighting chronic child malnutrition, and the first time the region's finance ministry officials agree on joint measures for nutrition.

"We are talking about a million and a half children in Central America. This region has the resources. It is only a matter of political will to prevent hunger among children," Medrano said.

Medrano cited a recent study by the WPF and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) showing the grave impact how grave the situation is for Central American economies.

"Our estimates are that the economic cost of malnutrition is between two percent and 12 percent of gross domestic product," depending on which country, or an average of six percent for the Central American region, he said.

"This is approximately an average of six billion dollars lost annually by Central American countries due to malnutrition."

Proper care and nutrition of children at their earliest ages "are fundamental to overcome poverty and assure economic growth and the stability of the countries," he said.

Medrano drew a direct link between malnutrition and the violence that bests much of the region, saying those who aren't cared for early make their way eventually into gangs.

Violence "is the final stage of a process of social breakdown," Medrano said.

"There is no reason for any child to go hungry. It does not cost so much, only 20 cents a day per child," he said.