‘For Panama, it is life or death’: how drought is choking the canal that feeds a nation
Panama is facing a severe water crisis caused by drought and the El Niño climate phenomenon, which is threatening the viability of the Panama Canal and local agriculture. Farmers are struggling to keep livestock alive as water sources dry up.
Why it matters
The crisis threatens both the local food supply and the global supply chain, as the Panama Canal is a critical artery for international maritime trade.
Drought in the lake of Cienaga de las Macanas, El Rincon, Herrera province, Panama. Drought in the lake of Cienaga de las Macanas, El Rincon, Herrera province, Panama. Southern frontlines: Latin America and the Caribbean Panama ‘For Panama, it is life or death’: how drought is choking the canal that feeds a nation Failed rains and a dire El Niño threaten the waterway that sustains the country, with farmers selling cattle to survive
About this content Jessica Rawnsley in Panama Tue 20 Oct 2026 11.00 BST Last modified on Tue 20 Oct 2026 11.01 BST Share Prefer the Guardian on Google T he cattle should be ambling, grazing contentedly, through Robert Delgado’s fields. Instead, the animals slump in the shade, tongues lolling, in futile attempts to avoid the blistering heat. Soon it will matter little whether their appetite returns, for there will be no grass left to graze.
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