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.

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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

Panamanian farms take action to reduce jaguar attacks and promote coexistence

A growing number of farms in Panama are taking steps to reduce jaguar attacks on livestock, showing that coexistence between humans and these American felines is possible, a UN agency said on Friday.

The jaguar (Panthera onca) holds a prominent place in Mayan and Aztec mythology, but many farmers kill them after livestock attacks.

Ninety-six percent of jaguar deaths in Panama from 1989 to 2019 occurred following attacks on livestock, according to the NGO Fundación Yaguará. Additionally, the prized jaguar hide made them targets for poachers, causing the population to decline by 20 to 25% since 2000, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

“Conserving the jaguar is not just about protecting an iconic species; it also involves safeguarding and restoring critical ecosystems, and improving water management and biodiversity,” Juan Bello, Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), told AFP.

Fundación Yaguará, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and UNEP are running a program to “reduce conflicts between communities and wildlife” in Panama.

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Through this innovative project, many farms have adopted measures to reduce livestock attacks and avoid retaliatory killings of jaguars, demonstrating that coexistence is indeed possible.

Central America

Police confirm multiple victims and fire after church shooting in Grand Blanc, Michigan

A new mass shooting shook the United States this Sunday, this time at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintslocated on McCandlish Rd. in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

The Grand Blanc Township Police Department confirmed that there were multiple victims, though their identities and the extent of their injuries have not yet been disclosed. Authorities have not specified whether there are fatalities.

According to the official report, the attacker “is down” and the threat has been neutralized.

“There are multiple victims, and the shooter is down. There is NO threat to the public at this time. The church is actively on fire,” the department said in a statement.

In addition to the shooting, a fire is consuming the temple, prompting police to urge residents to avoid the area as emergency operations continue.

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Central America

Bukele and Trump highlight joint fight against gangs and terrorism

U.S. President Donald Trump thanked the Government of El Salvador for its collaboration in imprisoning criminals who had entered U.S. territory irregularly. The Republican leader acknowledged the work of his ally during his address at the 80th United Nations General Assembly taking place this week in New York.

“I want to thank El Salvador for the successful and professional work it has done in receiving and imprisoning so many criminals who entered our country. Under the previous administration [of Joe Biden], the numbers reached record levels, and now we are expelling them all,” Trump stated.

For his part, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele expressed his gratitude to the U.S. leader for his remarks and for officially designating the 18th Street gang as a terrorist group.

“In El Salvador, we had already taken that step by formally labeling them terrorists, and although some organizations have criticized us, the majority of their members are currently imprisoned at Cecot, the Terrorism Confinement Center, designed specifically to confront these threats,” Bukele said.

He added that both countries share a common vision in the fight against terrorism. “We are convinced that cooperation between our nations is key to eradicating these criminal structures and ensuring a future of peace and security for our people,” Bukele emphasized.