Compound disaster: drought and Covid-19 in Veracruz, Mexico

Drought can affect agricultural productivity and human health when there is a sanitary crisis. This research aimed to analyze the implications of drought on the agricultural sector and the COVID-19 in Veracruz, Mexico. Historical data over drought and emergency declarations from 2003 to 2021 were analyzed, together with public agricultural and health data. The results indicate that drought incremented from 2003 until 2019, generating agricultural losses and 214 emergency declarations. The most populated municipalities had the highest rates of COVID-19 and moderated to abnormal drought levels during 2020 and 2021. Therefore, it is concluded that a compound drought-COVID-19 disaster increases risks due to a productive and sanitary deficit.