SILVER SPRING, Md.--The recent political unrest in Honduras is causing delays in providing valuable humanitarian aid for communities in one of the most disadvantaged regions of the country, reported the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

ADRA is currently completing the implementation of the Development Assistance Program in Support of Subsistence Farmer Households, a food security project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that is increasing food access, household incomes, and agricultural production for more than 19,000 families in Santa Barbara, a western department of Honduras located 137 miles (220 km) from the capital Tegucigalpa.

To date, the project has also improved the health and nutrition of more than 5,300 children under the age of five, and strengthened their communities' ability to withstand and appropriately respond to risks and shocks that may affect their food access and availability.

"As we near completion of the project, to ensure project sustainability, we begin to transfer responsibilities to the beneficiaries, and local governmental authorities," shared Roberto Brown, country Finance Director for ADRA Honduras. "Unfortunately, due to the current political situation, most of the mayors and government offices in our targeted regions are unavailable. It is a real setback in achieving our goals."

Country Director Claudio Sandoval also noted that other logistical challenges included getting aid to targeted regions, due to insecurity, political demonstrations, and roadblocks.

"We are trying not to put our staff, and our commodities at risk, because our trucks cannot pass," said Sandoval. "It's not every day that something happens, but it is difficult, because we don't know where it's going to happen, or which day...this is causing problems for our staff in the region."

The project is currently being carried out in Santa Barbara's southern municipalities, including San Francisco de Ojuera, San Pedro Zacapa, Ceguaca, Concepcion del Sur, Santa Rita, El Nispero, La Arada, San Nicolas, San Vicente Centenario, and Nuevo Celilac. It is scheduled to be completed September 30, 2009.

On June 28, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, was deposed by the Honduran military, after months of rising tension. Scores of demonstrations both in protest and support of the recent events continue, disrupting travel, and encouraging many businesses to remain closed.

ADRA has been active in Honduras since 1998, working primarily in the areas of infrastructure, health care, economic development, food security, emergency management, and education.

ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.

For more information, visit www.adra.org.