DATE=04/10/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-288530

TITLE=CQ W-F-P / GUATEMALA (L-O)

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: REISSED TO CORRECT STYLE FOR NUMBERS IN 1ST AND LAST GRAFS OF TEXT. ///

INTRO: The United Nations World Food Program, W-F-P, says 60-thousand severely malnourished children in Guatemala are in urgent need of international assistance. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports W-F-P says six-thousand of these children are in imminent danger of dying.

TEXT: The World Food Program says at least 126 children have

died of hunger in Guatemala in the last eight months. And, it warns thousands of

other severely malnourished children could meet the same fate. W-F-P

Spokeswoman, Christiane Berthiaume says six-thousand children are just skin

and bones and their outlook is very grim. She says there is significant chronic malnutrition throughout Latin America. But, she says it is extremely rare and alarming

to find so many cases of extreme malnutrition.

/// BERTHIAUME ACT ///

The situation is deteriorating at a fast rate in

Guatemala. Two years ago, the estimation of the children suffering from

severe and acute malnutrition was two-point-five percent of children that

were under five. Now, it is 16 percent. So the deterioration is

phenomenal.

/// END ACT ///

Guatemala has suffered a series of natural catastrophes over the past few

years. Hurricane Mitch devastated the country in 1998. This was followed

by two years of consecutive drought. Ms. Berthiaume says poor farmers were

forced to eat their food reserves to survive. And, now, she says they have

nothing left. In addition, she notes one-half-million people have lost

their jobs because of the dramatic fall in coffee prices on the world

market. The W-F-P spokeswoman says the agency launched an appeal for five-

million dollars in March to buy nine tons of food for 60-thousand

malnourished children and their families.

/// 2ND BERTHIAUME ACT ///

Since March, we have not a single contribution

from donor countries, from Europe, from the United States, from Canada.

Nobody sent us anything. And we feel very sad about that because Europe,

the United States supported the peace process in Guatemala. They have been

strong supporters of the democratic development in that country. And, what

we are saying right now to donor countries is this is not the time to let

the kids of this country, not to help these kids. They really need your

help right now.

/// END ACT ///

Ms. Berthiaume says the only money W-F-P has received is individual

contributions of 25 to 50 dollars. While this generosity is

very touching, she says it is not enough to feed thousands of destitute,

hungry children, nor to prevent many of them from dying. (Signed)

NEB/LS/RH