Honduras

Honduras is rich in natural beauty, with vast mountainous areas, fertile plateaus, river valleys and coastal plains. The second-largest country in Central America, Honduras is struggling to overcome a violent past marked by wars and coups, military and authoritarian regimes, and the exploitative dictates of foreign companies. With two-thirds of its 7.4 million people living in poverty, Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Americas.

Hurricane Mitch devastated Honduras in 1998, causing tremendous loss of life, wreaking havoc on the country's infrastructure and exposing the extreme vulnerability of the poor. Honduras remains highly susceptible to tropical storms, drought and landslides, and these recurring disasters affect poor, isolated communities most seriously.

High unemployment and high income inequality coupled with inadequate development and education have created a complex environment in which Catholic Relief Services strives to make a difference.

CRS began working in Honduras in 1959 to provide effective development projects that address the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable Hondurans. Today, CRS focuses programs in the densely populated southwestern departments of Lempira and Intibucá, which border El Salvador. These isolated, rural communities lack the resources and infrastructure to sustain basic levels of health, sanitation, education and safe water.

In addition to improving the management of agriculture and natural resources in Honduras, CRS is involved in establishing emergency systems to protect against the tropical storms and hurricanes that periodically ravage the country. Committed to the principles of justice and solidarity, CRS also works to combat child labor and HIV and AIDS, and to improve complex migration issues. Through cooperation with our local partners, CRS has had great success implementing these projects.