Mexico drought worsened by cold

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- What officials call the most severe drought Mexico has ever faced has been worsened by a spate of cold weather.

This week, the government authorized $2.63 billion in aid for 19 of Mexico's 31 states. With agriculture devastated in nearly half of the country, the money will go to potable water, food and temporary jobs for citizens displaced by the drought.

Freezing temperatures worsened the already rising prices of produce such as corn and beans, and may lead to inflation.

The New York Times reported Tuesday certain areas in need of aid are difficult to reach, delaying the flow of food and water to people in those regions.

The most severely affected are indigenous communities, particularly tribal areas of the Tarahumara community in the Sierra Madre, among Mexico's poorest citizens.

Authorities say they expect the situation to worsen; however, they do not expect it to have an impact on export prices.