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Emergencies

CENTRAL AMERICA REFUGEE CRISIS

1 million

More than 1 million people have been uprooted from their homes in Central America due to violence, insecurity and persecution, mainly by criminal organizations (as of December 2022)

665K

The number of asylum-seekers and refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras worldwide has reached 665,200 (as of December 2022).

118K

Mexico ranks among the top receiving countries of asylum applications in the world, with 118,800 new asylum claims (as of December 2022).

About the Crisis in Central America

More than 1 million people were uprooted from their homes in Central America by the end of 2022 due to violence, insecurity and persecution, mainly by criminal organizations. El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have some of the highest rates of violence in the world. Gang violence, political turmoil, threats, extortion, persecution and sexual violence have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes in search of safety and a better life. Approximately 665,200 people are seeking refuge in neighboring countries and more than 318,000 are internally displaced within the region. 

Asylum systems in Central America and Mexico continued to deal with an increasing number of asylum claims. Mexico ranks among the top receiving countries of asylum applications in the world, with 118,800 new asylum claims by the end of 2022. 

Women, girls and LGBTQI+ individuals are victims of SGBV at incredibly high rates. Tens of thousands have fled the NCA countries in order to escape domestic violence, rape and sexual assault. Members of the LGBTI community are also subject to severe discrimination, including barriers to basic services - such as health, education and employment - and often lack legal protection.

A multi-year drought affecting the “Dry Corridor” running through Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador is causing a dramatic rise in hunger in the region. Hurricanes Eta and Iota, two of the most powerful storms to hit Central America in decades, have also displaced an estimated 1.5 million people in the region.

Violence, insecurity, fragile institutions, the impact of climate change and deep-rooted inequalities will force more people to flee, either within their own countries or across borders.

VIDEO

Gang violence is forcing people from the North of Central America to flee their homes

How to Help

UNHCR is on the ground aiding displaced Central American families, but resources are stretched too thin. Your gift will offer hope for a safe future.

What is UNHCR doing to help in Central America?

The UN Refugee Agency is working closely with over 70 partners and governments in the NCA region to strengthen protection alternatives and encourage long term solutions for people forced to flee. Through the MIRPS (Regional Comprehensive Protection and Solutions Framework), UNHCR undertakes the following activities:

Facts about the Central America Refugee Crisis

A girl from Honduras stands outside of her room in Tapachula, Mexico after fleeing gang violence.

More Facts About the Central America Refugee Crisis

  • Unaccompanied minors make up a large portion of those seeking refuge in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. They undertake treacherous journeys alone to avoid gang recruitment and face heightened risks of being kidnapped, trafficked, raped or killed.
  • As of 2021, LGBTI individuals in El Salvador, alongside women and adolescents from ages 12-29, are the most likely to be internally displaced.
  • In 2022, Honduras saw an increase in criminal activity and displacement. In addition, landslides, floods and road collapses affected more than 80,000 people and caused more than 20 deaths.

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