Two months ago, Nicaraguan Norlan Jiménez lost his job in the Cayman Islands, in the Caribbean, due to the pandemic. Desperate financially, the man managed to buy with the remainder of his last payment an air ticket to return to his country on April 18. But the return plan was thwarted by the Daniel Ortega government. Managua authorities notified Cayman Airways that the two flights scheduled to repatriate 160 Nicaraguan economic migrants had forbidden to land at the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport, in the capital of the Central American country.
Jiménez panicked. Although Cayman Airways will refund the full cost of the fare, the bills do not give you to pay for lodging or food any longer. “We cannot continue here. We have been out of work for more than two months and we are not doing anything, ”reproached the Nicaraguan. Jiménez made the decision to return to his country of origin for two reasons. The first because the paradisiacal British overseas territory planned his confinement for three more months and the second: he saw in the news that Nicaragua has not officially closed borders, nor imposed a quarantine to contain the advance of the coronavirus.
However, the notification that the Caribbean airline received was clear: “The Government of Nicaragua has closed its borders indefinitely as of today.” The closure of the air border immediately resonated in Nicaragua because the Sandinista health authorities have reiterated that it is not necessary to close borders for travelers who come from countries with active transmission of covid-19, much less to Nicaraguans. After widespread criticism of this decision, the Ministry of Health asked on March 23 that travelers should be confined 14 days at home as a preventive measure, but did not indicate a ban on entering the country.
Since last weekend, the Sandinista immigration and immigration authorities have closed de facto the land border to 96 other migrants who lost their agricultural jobs in El Salvador, due to the strict quarantine imposed by the Government of Nayib Bukele. Another 200 Nicaraguans in Panama were also prevented from returning, when they requested repatriation before their embassy. Currently, more than 400 people are stranded awaiting a response from the Ortega government, but so far they have not reported any variation in their open borders policy against the pandemic.
Uncompromising at the request of migrants
The policy of the Ortega Government has been criticized given its laxity and the minimizing the risk of the epidemic of the covid-19. The Sandinista Administration only reports 10 positive cases of coronavirus and two deaths, and also ensures that they have controlled the virus “with limited resources and patience.” Under these premises, Nicaragua became the only Central American country with open borders, as part of the government’s effort to reposition the country as a tourist destination in the midst of the pandemic.
Although the Sandinista government received cruise ships and planes loaded with tourists weeks ago – before all international airlines suspended operations in Managua in early April – this time it has been adamant about the pleas of migrants trying to return home. .
“We hired a bus with the last pennies. We are on the Guasaule bridge (Honduran border with Nicaragua). It is no man’s land. We need to enter Nicaragua, ”said Juan Carlos Gutiérrez, one of the 96 Nicaraguans from El Salvador, who have been stranded since April 18. Nicaraguans abroad are a fundamental pillar for the economy due to the sending of family remittances.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) learned about the situation of the migrants on the El Guasaule bridge and provided them with logistical and financial support to return, while the Honduran department of La Unión provided them with a shelter. However, unable to cross legally, several of the 96 Nicaraguans entered the Honduran-Nicaraguan border on Tuesday “through blind spots.” “Avoiding the police,” the migrant José Méndez told EL PAÍS after stepping on his home territory.
The decision of the Ortega government to close the borders to its compatriots ignores the recommendation made by Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: this week she urged Latin American countries to open their borders and allow the return of their fellow citizens stranded in foreign nations, as well as to provide them with health care and other rights. “Under international law, everyone has the right to return to their country of origin, even during a pandemic,” said Bachelet.
“We ask our government authorities to open the airport for us, because we are Nicaraguan and we have the right to return to our homes,” said Norlan Jiménez. “They say we could take infected people here, but we are all healthy, because the Cayman Islands government has us under preventive measures. We agree that upon arrival in Nicaragua they subject us to quarantine, “he added.
–
Due to the exceptional circumstances, EL PAÍS is offering all its digital content for free. Information regarding the coronavirus will remain open as long as the severity of the crisis persists.
Dozens of journalists work tirelessly to bring you the most rigorous coverage and fulfill their public service mission. If you want to support our journalism you can do it here for 1 Euro the first month (from June 10 euros). Subscribe to the facts.
