Honduras Background Information

Honduras is the poorest and least developed country in Central America. Nearly one-fifth of the rural population does not have access to safe drinking water, and nearly half do not have proper sanitary facilities. Honduras has a six-month dry season. During this time, families must walk long distances to find larger streams. In addition, deforestation has caused many traditional groundwater resources to disappear, forcing families to walk further and further distances to find water. Latin America was devastated by an epidemic of cholera in 1991, causing thousands of deaths. Most of these deaths could have been prevented with simple safe water systems and latrines.