Assistant Secretary of State Thomas A. Shannon says Central American and Caribbean countries are vulnerable because many depend on money sent home by migrants in the U.S. and because development loans are becoming harder to get.

Shannon says the U.S. will try to ensure that the countries have access to the credit they need to survive the crisis and protect social programs. He says it will raise the issue at next month’s G-20 summit in London and the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Shannon spoke to reporters in Honduras on Thursday after talks with Honduran President Manuel Zelaya.