The Arizona National Guard delivered over 40,000 packaged meals to members of the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation but some people -- particularly elders who may not understand written English -- have had trouble with the rations.

The guardsmen took action after President Barack Obama signed a declaration of emergency that covered the Hopi and Navajo reservations. The meals that were delivered came with instructions that not everyone could understand.

"It is difficult for people who have never had them, and grandma and grandpa can't read," Navajo Nation Emergency Operation Center spokeswoman Selena Manychildren told The Farmington Daily Times. "There's a diagram, but you have to understand a little bit about them before it makes sense. People are saying, Gee, what the heck, how do I use this?'"

Guard teams are working with the tribe to help people with the meals. But some are exchanging them for "real food," Manychildren said.

Get the Story:
Guard drops meals on Navajo Nation, but language barrier keeps residents from eating food (The Farmington Daily Times 2/5)

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