The arid "dry corridor" of Central America is facing its worst drought in living memory, fueled by the El Niño weather pattern. This phenomenon warms the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean, causing extreme weather changes globally. In this region, which spans parts of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, the drought has led to food shortages, the death of livestock, and deepening hardship for residents. More than 10 million people live in the area, with 80% of small farmers in extreme poverty, according to the United Nations. People here, used to dealing with extreme weather, are finding this crisis unlike anything they have seen before. "We had never seen anything like this," said Lidia Ochoa, a 76-year-old woman from San Lorenzo in southern Honduras, describing her struggle with food insecurity. Farmers are seeing their livelihoods collapse under the weight of the drought. Francisco Molina, a 48-year-old farmer in Honduras, finds his fields barren and his animals dying. In El Salvador, Maria de la Paz Portillo, 31, manages a reservoir that once supported fifty families and fish farming. Now, the reservoir is nearly empty, and residents have had to abandon fish farming to conserve water. Temperatures in the region have reached record highs, with El Matazano hitting 42°C. The situation is worsening as El Niño is expected to remain a strong force until 2027, with experts warning it could be the strongest on record. The drought has forced many to cut back on food and reduce the number of meals they eat. Some farmers are selling their animals at a loss before they die, as the lack of water and feed has made livestock farming unsustainable. In San Lorenzo, Honduras, over 100 cows have died in recent months, their bodies left to decompose on cracked earth. Darwin Cruz, a local farmer, has already sold two of his dairy cows, with a third dying. Now, his remaining three cows produce only a quarter of their usual milk. "If the rain doesn't come, I know what I will have to do," he said, referring to selling more of his animals. In response to the crisis, governments in the region have declared states of emergency, but aid has been limited. Many residents rely on non-governmental organizations for support. Indigenous leader Elvira Pasa in northern Guatemala estimates that all the corn harvests will be lost, worsening an already dire situation of child malnutrition. The price of corn has jumped by 50%, and Lidia Ochoa says she now eats only one tortilla per meal due to rising costs. Lena Savelli, regional director of the World Food Programme, warns that 16 million people in Latin America could face food shortages because of El Niño. Meanwhile, some people are trying to adapt by growing more drought-resistant crops, but the coming months are expected to be the most challenging yet. "I am beginning to be afraid," said Pasa, "because we do not know what we will live on."