No Way to Safety in Mexico for People Fleeing Extreme Violence in Central America Doctors Without Borders
go to original May 23, 2017

Facts & Myths: Migration in Mexico (Médecins Sans Frontières)

Central Americans forced to flee devastating violence in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador are being re-victimized along the migration route to the United States and Mexico, according to a report released by the medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). These populations lack comprehensive access to medical care and are forced to contend with more violence along the route and aggressive deportation policies that disregard their need for assistance and protection.

“The unrelenting violence and emotional suffering endured by a significant number of people on the move from the Northern Triangle of Central America (NTCA), is not unlike what is experienced by people in the conflict zones where we have been working for decades,” said Bertrand Rossier, MSF’s head of mission in Mexico. “Murder, kidnappings, threats, recruitment by non-state armed actors, extortion, sexual violence and forced disappearance – these are the realities of war and conflicts that people in this region of Central America also have to face.”

The report, entitled “Forced to Flee from the Northern Triangle of Central America, a Neglected Humanitarian Crisis”, examines medical data, patient surveys and testimonies gathered by MSF teams during two years of direct medical attention. The report illustrates the extreme level of violence experienced by people fleeing the NTCA, and the need for greater care and protection of people along the migration and refugee route.

Of the 467 people interviewed by MSF, 39.2% mentioned direct attacks or threats to themselves or their families, and extortion or gang-forced recruitment as the main reasons for fleeing their countries. Additionally, 68.3% reported being victims of violence during their transit in Mexico. In total, 92.2% of migrants and refugees seen by MSF mental health teams in 2015 and 2016 had lived through a violent event in their country of origin or along the route. Furthermore, MSF’s report shows that access to comprehensive healthcare, treatment for sexual violence and mental health services along the journey is limited or non-existent.

To learn more visit Doctors Without Borders

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