Economic woes slash remittances in Guatemala - 22 Aug 09

Many people in the southwestern Guatemalan city of Salcaja have traditionally depended on money sent to them from relatives in the US.

With 50 per cent of the city's residents currently in the US, the city was at one time considered one of the wealthiest in Guatemala due to the remittances.

But residents say the economic downturn means they are now sending more money to their families in the US than they are receiving.

Al Jazeera's David Mercer reports from Salcaja, in southwest Guatemala.