ABUSE, SCARCITY, AND INSECURITY.

The article focuses on the Hurricane Mitch, that struck in October 1998 and left all countries of the region paralyzed by a large scale of destruction. The storm caused more than 10,000 deaths, wiped out more than 2,000 potable water systems in Honduras and Nicaragua alone, left millions without dependable drinking water, and forced 2 million people from their homes. Crowded shelters created unsanitary conditions and fueled the spread of diseases such as dengue. The disaster stretched national governments to the brink of failure.