A quick view of the migration situation in the Central America Subregion - Human mobility events in Humanitarian Health Contexts
In recent years, Central American subregion migration dynamics have significantly changed, taking some countries to the limit of their management and response capabilities and generating an unprecedented humanitarian situation. (1)
Different social and political conflicts, food insecurity, natural hazards disasters-associated, health emergencies associated with arboviral diseases, acute respiratory infections, water and foodborne diseases, natural disasters, environmental degradation, economic problems, violence, and other factors and conditions have forced people to look to other countries for opportunities to improve their lives. (2)
As of September 2023, 408,972 migrants in transit who crossed the border between Colombia and Panama had been recorded; that is, a figure up to three times higher than that reported for the same period in 2022 (3). These migrants are primarily male, between 20 and 45 years old; however, a growing percentage of minors has been observed—three nationalities predominate: Venezuelans, Ecuadorians, and Haitians.(4)
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama have had the most significant impact regarding the limited capacity to cover the needs of temporary shelter, medical care, and security for migrants in transit. (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). Migrants' transit length of stay in Costa Rica and Panama increased from 2-3 days to 7-10 days due to the search for income, allowing them to continue their transit route and increasing the demand for health services.
Surveys conducted by the United Nations Refugee Agency showed that 11% of the interviewees were traveling with pregnant women, 9% with underlying conditions, and 2% with older adults. Additionally, a report on the needs of refugees and migrants published by the R4V platform estimated that 22.8% of migrants in transit and at least 13.8% of people in the communities of reception are populations in need (PIN) of health services (access and provision of health services). (11, 12)
PAHO, in close coordination with the Ministries of Health of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and local authorities in border areas, has taken different actions to mitigate the impact on migrant and potential recipient populations.
Based on the five strategic recommended actions on migration and health in the Americas, (2) PAHO/WHO has conducted several activities in which they stand out: mapping of actors in the humanitarian health response, technical assistance for the formation, development, and execution of intersectoral health specialized tables, formation of situation rooms in border health establishments, equipment with technological resources to strengthen collection, processing, and analysis of data on human mobility events, the provision of essential medical supplies and personal protective equipment, the development of educational material on available health services, the training of human talent in health, on issues related to mental health, epidemiological surveillance and strengthening the capacities of community promoters in some countries.
However, critical challenges still prevail, such as access to health services for migrants in transit, which are associated with their irregular immigration status, the loss of personal information, and the lack of financial resources, especially to access preventive services.
PAHO plans to promote strengthening the health information management systems, the establishment of joint intersectoral and interagency actions for the management of water for human consumption, sanitation, and hygiene, enhance the financing of health systems, support strategies to cover the demand for health services, promote access to public health services and programs on the migratory route free of stigma and xenophobia, strengthen the exchange of information among countries in the subregion, strengthen training and exchange of experiences and information, strengthening primary care program at entry points, health promotion and provision of hygiene and biosafety supplies.
References:
1. Organización de las Naciones Unidas. Organización Internacional para las Migraciones. Comunicado global 27 de septiembre. [Consultado el 30 de octubre de 2023]. Disponible en https://www.iom.int/es/news/aumento-sin-precedentes-de-personas-migrantes-en-centroamerica-y-mexico-la-oim-reclama-acciones-nivel-regional.
2. Organización Panamericana de la Salud (2019). Documento de Orientación sobre migración y salud. Disponible en: https://www.paho.org/en/documents/guidance-document-migration-and-health
3. Ministerio de Seguridad Pública y Servicio Nacional de Migración de Panamá, año 2023. [consultado el 30 de octubre de 2023] Disponible en: https://www.migracion.gob.pa/images/img2023/pdf/TR%C3%81NSITO_IRREGULAR_DEL_DARI%C3%89N.pdf
4. Ministerio de Seguridad Pública y Servicio Nacional de Migración de Panamá, año 2023. Disponible en: https://www.migracion.gob.pa/inicio/estadisticas
5. The UN Refugee Agency. World Food Program. Mixed Movements Monitoring. January - March 2023. [consultado el 30 de octubre de 2023] Disponible en: https://www.acnur.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/Mixed%20Movements%20Monitoring%20Q1%202023%20-%20UNHCR-WFP.pdf
6. Organización Internacional para las Migraciones, DTM flujo migratorio en frontera sur de Costa Rica, julio 2023. https://dtm.iom.int/reports/monitoreo-del-flujo-migratorio-de-personas-en-situacion-de-movilidad-por-las-americas-en-7?close=true
7. Organización Internacional para las Migraciones, DTM flujo migratorio Costa Rica, junio 2023. https://dtm.iom.int/reports/monitoreo-del-flujo-migratorio-de-personas-en-situacion-de-movilidad-por-las-americas-en-6
8. Instituto de Migración de Honduras, Estadísticas 2023. Consultado el 30 de octubre de 2023. Disponible en: https://inm.gob.hn/migracion-irregular.html
9. Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración (2023). Consultado el 30 de octubre de 2023. Disponible en : https://igm.gob.gt/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/RETORNADOS-VIA-TERRESTRE-TECUN-UMAN-AGOSTO-2023-2.pdf
10. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Guatemala (2023). Consultado el 30 de octubre de 2023]. Disponible en: https://reliefweb.int/report/guatemala/guatemala-migrantesmovilidad-humana-informe-de-situacion-no-1-al-25-de-septiembre-2023
11. The UN Refugee Agency. World Food Program. Operational Data Portal 2023. [consultado el 30 de octubre de 2023]. Disponible en: https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/103744
12. Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V). RMNA 2023 - REFUGEE AND MIGRANT NEEDS ANALYSIS. [consultado el 30 de octubre de 2023]. Disponible en: https://www.r4v.info/en/document/rmna-2023-needs-analysis