Central America
IFRC warns of growing health barriers for migrants in the Americas
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) issued a warning on Tuesday about the urgent health needs faced by migrants in the Americas, who “must overcome increasing barriers” and suffer from a “lack of comprehensive healthcare” in both transit and destination countries.
“The insufficiency of healthcare services and the barriers to access are putting lives at risk, exacerbating health inequalities, and putting immense pressure on already fragile national health systems,” the IFRC stated in a release marking the publication of the report Migration and Health in the Americas: Needs and Services Assessment.
The report, which compiles data from 2021 to 2023, indicates that in the case of migrants in transit, “between 60% and 70% require healthcare, with general medical services being the most needed,” while in destination countries, “up to 74% require healthcare services, such as maternal and pediatric care, treatment for chronic diseases, mental health services, and specialized care.”
Pedro Porriño, IFRC’s Emergency Health Coordinator for the Americas, emphasized that “access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, and the barriers migrants face—whether due to their irregular status, lack of documentation, or fear of deportation—must be dismantled.”
“It is essential to provide comprehensive healthcare that addresses their needs, from basic medical care to specialized treatments for chronic conditions, mental health support, and services for people with disabilities,” Porriño added.
The IFRC highlighted that in Panama, a country that experiences a steady flow of migrants crossing the dangerous Darién jungle, the Red Cross has provided nearly 750,000 services over the past six years, mostly to migrants needing first aid, general medicine, mental health support, access to clean water, vaccinations, and sexual and reproductive health care.
“Addressing the health needs of migrants should be a priority, and recognizing the role of local Red Cross teams in providing assistance, protection, and dignity is an opportunity for governments and donors to ensure migrants’ right to health,” said Martha Keays, IFRC Regional Director for the Americas.
Central America
Venezuelan opposition leader to meet Costa Rican president Rodrigo Chaves on thursday
Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia will meet with Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves this Thursday, the Presidential Office of Costa Rica announced today.
“We will give a warm welcome to the person who won the July elections in Venezuela, and we continue to denounce electoral fraud,” President Chaves stated during his weekly press conference.
Meanwhile, Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo André explained that González Urrutia is visiting Costa Rica to “inform the president and provide details about the situation in Venezuela, the victory he achieved with over 7 million votes on July 28, and the electoral fraud committed by Nicolás Maduro’s regime, which fraudulently swore him in as president.”
González Urrutia is currently in Guatemala, having arrived from the Dominican Republic as part of a tour through several countries ahead of the controversial inauguration on January 10, during which the Chavista leader Nicolás Maduro was sworn in as president by the National Assembly, controlled by the ruling party.
Central America
President Arévalo highlights anti-corruption and drug trafficking efforts in first year report
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo de León highlighted this Tuesday the progress made in the fight against corruption and drug trafficking as cornerstones of his first year at the helm of the Guatemalan government, during a session in Congress.
“We are in a process of transformation, but the commitment must be focused on eradicating the corruption that has oppressed us for so long,” said the president during the presentation of his first government report.
Arévalo de León urged lawmakers to “work together for structural change” in the country and thanked the president of the Legislative Body, Nery Ramos, for their joint efforts in the approval of various laws and the alliances formed during 2024.
The Guatemalan president highlighted as an achievement of his administration the denunciation of dozens of corruption structures embedded in state entities, such as fraud networks involving businessmen and former officials.
Central America
Honduras arrests former military leaders over 2009 killings
Former Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Honduras, General Romeo Vásquez, was arrested on Sunday as the alleged person responsible for the 2009 killings of two individuals by military personnel, just days after leading the coup against former President Manuel Zelaya.
Along with him, the Deputy Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Venancio Cervantes, and the former commander of the Joint Operations Command were also detained, according to the Secretary of State for Security (Interior), Gustavo Sánchez, on his social media account X.
“The three arrests were made moments ago by the Honduran Police in coordination with the Public Ministry in Tegucigalpa and La Paz (west),” Sánchez said.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office had issued an arrest warrant for the three ex-military officials “on charges of homicide and aggravated assault” against Obed Murillo and Alex Zavala, who were attacked by “members of the Armed Forces,” according to the Public Ministry.
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