ROMA – In southern Mexico, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has doubled medical assistance through mobile clinics since the end of October to respond to the sharp increase in the number of people transiting to the US border, who are moving in groups of thousands to avoid violence during the voyage. MSF insistently calls on the authorities to guarantee safe migration routes and make basic services available to people on the move. In the southern states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz, MSF teams carried out 855 medical visits between 24 September and 8 November, following the arrival of eight caravans of around 5,000 people. In the last 3 weeks, MSF teams have assisted 6 caravans that left from the city of Tapachula, on the border with Guatemala. In the coming days, the authorities expect the departure of even more numerous new caravans and their transit in various points of southern Mexico.
They travel in a caravan to avoid violence. “The violence to which people of all ages are exposed – says Ricardo Santiago, coordinator of MSF projects in southern Mexico – who cross Mexico, including kidnapping, extortion or sexual violence, forces them to travel in large groups as a mechanism of protection. The size of the caravans is growing significantly. If in September and October they were made up of a few hundred people, now they are thousands”. The caravans are the tip of the iceberg of the migration phenomenon in Mexico, where between January and August 2024 more than 925,000 cases of people in situations of irregular migration, with an increase of 131% compared to the same period of the previous year according to official data “In addition to the risk of suffering violence, people group themselves in caravans to cope with an extremely difficult process complex asylum seekers in both Mexico and the U.S. CBP-One system and response delays. Beyond the caravans, there are countless vulnerable people on the move who are difficult to reach for medical care. necessary” continues Santiago of MSF.
People have respiratory infections, skeletal and skin diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases. MSF activities are taking place in the cities of Santiago Niltepec, La Venta, Sayula de Alemán and Huixtla. The people assisted have acute respiratory infections, musculoskeletal diseases and skin and gastrointestinal problems, caused by undrinkable water, long walks and high temperatures, as well as people with chronic diseases such as hypertension, asthma and diabetes. MSF teams also provide sexual and reproductive health support, and one girl with a serious foot infection was redirected to a hospital with support from the authorities.
A chocolate bar costs as much as a full lunch. “In Tapachula the economic situation is not favorable for migrants, a chocolate bar costs as much as lunch and this makes no sense. Rent or hotel accommodation is too expensive and we have no help,” said Ariel, a young Venezuelan traveling in a group of 11 people, as he waited to be seen at an MSF mobile clinic in Sayula de Alemán. “We can’t take the bus, there are no safe routes and they won’t even let us pass. The only option is to move in caravans. I feel like I don’t have a home, no one welcomes you with open arms.” The violence and difficulties faced during the migration journey have a strong impact on the mental health of people on the move. Anxiety, acute stress, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder were the main conditions treated by MSF teams in the 69 individual mental health sessions carried out in the mobile clinics in recent days.
Suffering and invisibility of people on the move. “We assisted a person who had been kidnapped, had his hands burned and had been tortured in captivity. We witness every day the suffering and invisibility of people on the move and the impact on their physical and mental health” concludes Daniel Bruce, head of MSF in Tapachula. “As MSF we insist with the Mexican authorities on the need to address the consequences of violence, to provide safe migration routes and to strengthen the basic services available to people, including healthcare and spaces where they can rest with dignity.”
MSF’s work in Mexico. The staff of Doctors Without Borders has been working in Mexico since 1985 and currently manages projects in Matamoros, Reynosa, Mexico City, Coatzacoalcos, Tapachula and Suchiate to provide medical care to the migrant population.
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How does the presence of international humanitarian organizations like MSF influence the overall response to migrant health and safety issues in the region?
1. Could you please provide us an overview of the current situation regarding migrants’ movements along the southern border of Mexico and how MSF is responding to this issue?
2. What are some of the common medical issues that the migrants face during their journey to the U.S.-Mexico border, and how is MSF addressing these concerns?
3. How does the decision to travel in large caravans impact the safety and well-being of migrants, particularly in terms of exposure to violence and access to basic services?
4. Apart from providing medical care, what other types of support systems does MSF offer to migrants who are struggling with the challenges of their journeys?
5. The article mentions that violence and difficulties faced during the migration process have an impact on mental health. Can you give us some insights into the types of mental health issues that are prevalent among the people you’ve treated and how you handle these cases?
6. What challenges does MSF face in providing adequate care for migrants in Mexico, and how have you been collaborating with local authorities to address these challenges?
7. Considering the long-term nature of migration issues in the region, what are some potential solutions or steps that might be taken to improve the situation for people on the move?
