if life in these nations is improved, then people won't try to come north to seek a better one. to that end, ms harris and the biden administration are pledging $310 million in immediate humanitarian aid, plus, $4 billion in long—term funds to boost development and security across the region. —— that is part of $4 billion in long—term funds. and it's notjust money — last week the us said it would send 1.5 million vaccines doses to guatemala and mexico. so the aim is to boost livelihoods and protect lives in a region that could use it. but consider this — one us aid study looking into programmes in guatemala found that from 2006 to 2011, incomes rose less in places that got us funding, than in similarareas that received nothing. and as for the final result, it's hard to argue with the numbers. in april, us border agents encountered nearly 180,000 migrants at the border. that figure reaching a 20—year high. speaking today, ms harris said good relations between the us and central america were crucial. we are neighbours. and any