Aid Agencies Adopt War-Zone Ways to Help Central Americans in Crisis Sophie Hares - Thomson Reuters Foundation
go to original July 6, 2017

Deepening Central American Refugee Crisis (Amnesty International)

Extreme violence in Central America is forcing aid agencies to use conflict-zone tactics to reach people most at risk in gang-plagued nations such as El Salvador and Honduras, where homicide levels are comparable to those in war, experts say.

High numbers of people fleeing the region are suffering psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a humanitarian discussion heard this week, amid calls for governments to step up support for those unable to leave violent areas and others escaping north.

"Engaging and delivering assistance in areas controlled by gangs, 'maras' or other criminal organizations follows the same approach as in conflict settings," said Marc Bosch Bonacasa, Latin America program manager for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

The international medical charity follows a principled approach based on neutrality and independence, coupled with analysis and dialogue according to the positions and interests of violent actors, he said.

Central America has some of the world's most dangerous cities. Gang violence and grinding poverty have forced hundreds of thousands to leave their homes and make the often perilous trek through Mexico, to try and enter the United States.

Negotiating with gangs is often essential for aid organizations to get secure access to the people they need to help, said Christian Visnes, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) director for Colombia and the region.

But local humanitarian groups are among the most vulnerable to high levels of violence that could yet increase, he added.

Read the rest at DNA

Related: This Woman Fled a Brutal Civil War in El Salvador, and She Knows Today’s Refugees Aren’t So Lucky (Bustle)

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