The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is calling for urgent humanitarian assistance and protection for 210,000 people on the move by land northwards through Central America and Mexico.
The irregular migration has increased an 85% in Panama, 689% in Honduras, and 108% in Mexico. If this upward trend continues in the coming months, an estimated 500,000 people would require humanitarian assistance.
Along migratory routes, many people suffer accidents and injuries, face extortion and sexual violence, or disappear and are separated from their families. Others are killed or die from disease or environmental conditions.
Roger Alonso, IFRC Head of Disaster, Crises and Climate Unit, said:
“We are especially concerned for women, children, disabled, the older people, and LGBTQI migrants. They are at extreme risk and need medical and mental health assistance, access to food and water, information, connectivity, and resources to cover vital expenses such as paying for safe places to sleep.”
Most of migrants and refugees in transit through the region are from Cuba, Venezuela and Haiti. Nationals from Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Mexico also continue heading north. Main reasons for migrating include improving their income, escaping violence, reuniting with family members, and recovering from the impact of recurring disasters and extreme weather events.
Martha Keays, IFRC Regional Director for the Americas, said:
It is unacceptable that migrating continues to cost people their dignity and their lives. This is why we are scaling up our current response and standing up our vital emergency support along migratory routes. We call on governments, our partners, and donors to join this humanitarian action. Protecting people migrating in a desperate situation and defending their rights, disregarding their status is a humanitarian imperative and a collective duty. The devastating socioeconomic effects in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, continuing political crises and disasters will continue to ramp up exponentially population movements. The challenge ahead of us is titanic.”
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