Guatemala must change its tax regime to stop children dying

The Latin American country is wealthy, but the extreme gap between rich and poor causes a multitude of problems

Isabel is four years old. Her belly and ankles are swollen and she walks as if it hurts a little bit. Her family, who live in eastern Guatemala, have not had the means to feed her properly, so she is being treated for kwashiorkor – acute malnutrition.

Even though it is classified by the World Bank as a middle income country, the level of inequality in Guatemala is such that almost half its children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition. This is the fifth highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world, higher even than that in Haiti, which is by far the poorest country in the Americas.

Isabel will stay in the clinic supported by Christian Aid until she is well again. In some ways, she is lucky. At this time of year when the previous year’s harvest has run out, children do die of hunger in this part of Guatemala.

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