WFP Logistics - Guatemala

Guatemala has the highest rate of chronic malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean and the fourth highest in the world. Among children under five, the rate is 49.3 percent, although in the highlands of Guatemala where indigenous populations are concentrated, the rate reaches 70 percent. National health services cover only around 60 percent of the country. Most of the rural areas lack water and sanitation systems and there is limited access to an adequate diet because of income restrictions. In rural areas, the minimum wage covers around 75 percent of the basic food basket, and 70 percent of the population is below the poverty line. Additionally, Guatemala is prone to hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and frosts, recurrent events that threaten livelihoods. In October 2008, Tropical Depression 16 caused flooding with loss of life, and damage to housing, crops and communication structures, affecting more than 150,000 people in four departments.

WFP Logistics in Guatemala gives supports to the Country Progamme (CP), Protracted Relief and Recovery Operations (PRROs) and emergency activities through purchasing commodities, contracting transport and warehousing, as well as landside transport storage and handling (LTSH) management.