Mexico’s worst drought in 70 years

It could almost be called the forgotten drought.  Water shortages across the southern states of the United States have made regular headlines over the last few months, whilst the plight of the people and animals across the border in northern Mexico has received little attention.

Only now that rain and snow are beginning to fall in the U.S. has attention turned to those living in five of Mexico’s northern states where the effect of the worst drought in at least 70 years is being worst felt.

The figures are staggering; it is estimated that the country’s farmers have lost more than two million acres of crops and 1.7 million livestock have died, either through lack of water or starvation. 

Almost 1,500 villages close to the border with the U.S. are relying on government tanker deliveries of drinking water.
It is highly likely that the drought, which has seen the lowest annual rainfall since records began in 1941, is directly linked to La Nina.

The prospects for the region do not look good.  The dry season stretches on until at least June of 2012.