Despite being in the tropics and having defined rainy seasons from approximately April to May, the Caribbean region (Mesoamerica and the Antilles Islands) is a space where conditions for severe water stress exist for three main reasons:
The scenic beauty of Barbuda Island has reverted to an excessive urban development that endangers both the balance of the island’s natural environment and its biological species. In addition to the drought, the island is frequently hit by hurricanes, and was severely affected by Hurricane María in 2017. Source: Sean Pavone.
Location of the Central American Dry Corridor (CADC) and the Dry Arc of Panama with food insecurity, systems affected by recurring droughts and reduced annual rainfall. Source: Situation Report, June 2016. www.fao.org
Note in the image: the criteria used to delimit the Central American Dry Corridor and the Dry Arc of Panama is based on the zones in which the drought lasts over four months.
Intensity of the el Niño events according to the ONI Index. Source: https://ggweather.com/enso/oni.htm
Note in the image: 13 El Niño events since the 1980s
Droughts, hurricanes and human migrations
Left, effects of the drought known as «canícula» in 2015 in San José del Golfo, Guatemala. Source: CONRED. Right, migrant caravan in 2018 following the droughts of 2015-2016 and the devastating consequences of the mega-hurricane season of 2017. The situation was repeated in 2010, after the droughts of 2018-2019 and the mega-hurricane season of 2020. Source: GETTY IMAGES.