NRC in North of Central America and Mexico

Humanitarian overview

Displacement caused by generalised violence affects communities in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. Official figures are outdated or non-existent, but according to IDMC 1.2 million people were internally displaced within these countries in 2019.

Between half and two thirds of those fleeing from this region were the victims of threats, kidnapping or had experienced the murder or disappearance of a relative. However, violence is not the only trigger. For many, the devastation brought by hurricanes Eta and Iota was the last straw that pushed them to the brink of survival, with the loss of their homes and livelihoods.

According to the 2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, 8.3 million people need humanitarian assistance, 4.5 million people have protection needs and 6.9 million people are vulnerable to food insecurity.

One year after Eta and Iota, needs remain largely unmet and are even higher, compounded by persisting negative structural conditions of inequality, poverty, generalised violence, limited access to rights and the Covid-19 pandemic.

NRC's operation

NRC has been working in the North of Central America (NCA) since 2014, meeting the needs of tens of thousands affected by violence and natural disasters, including the internally displaced, refugees, people in need of international protection, deported people, and their hosts.

We contribute to the development of policy aiming to protect the rights of the displaced and we call for increased humanitarian funding and engagement on processes that will generate structural changes in protection and assistance in the region.

Education

We work to ensure that children and youth have access to education and safe schools. In collaboration with local communities and local and national authorities, our teams:

• identify out-of-school children and youth, and establish study groups for those who want to continue their education
• prepare children to resume education activities and gain basic skills to remain safe
• promote and provide safe education opportunities
• strengthen the capabilities of local communities and institutions

Despite the current pandemic, we continue to work to ensure children remain connected to learning.

Information, counselling and legal assistance (ICLA)

To protect those who had to flee their homes, as well as those deported back to the region, we:

• provide information and counselling on humanitarian assistance, asylum procedures, and other legal pathways for people in need of international protection
• support authorities at local and national level to develop legal frameworks or improve practices to protect the rights of the forcibly displaced
• provide services to ensure access to Refugee Status Determination (RSD) and housing, land and property rights
  
  

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) promotion

To support those affected by displacement, violence and natural disasters we:

• upgrade and maintain collective centres ensuring the good functioning of sanitation and handwashing facilities
• distribute water and hygiene kits and promote good hygiene practices
• build the capacity of local organisations and institutions to respond to displacement emergencies, in line with the international humanitarian standards

As part of our Covid-19 emergency response, we are rehabilitating schools to allow children to return to an environment where safety requirements can be met, and we work with school staff and communities to promote hygiene messages.

Livelihoods and food security

We equip vulnerable displaced people, as well as those at risk of displacement, to be better able to respond to shocks through the provision of better information and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods activities.

Protection

We assist people affected by forced displacement to increase physical security and reduce their exposure to violence. This is done by supporting communities to design self-protection measures and adopting a case management approach to provide tailored protection services to respond to and reduce protection risks.

The approach is complemented by the dissemination of information on rights, responsibilities and availability of services as well as the support to duty bearers, local authorities and other humanitarian actors to understand, mitigate and respond to protection risks. Our protection activities include:

• protection case management
• referral to other services provided by NRC or other humanitarian actors
• information sessions
• capacity building

Cash assistance

Whenever possible, when assisting individuals and families facing high protection risks and other emergency situations, we utilise technology to distribute cash to allow people to cover their shelter or transportation costs, to buy food, hygiene products, or access public services and pay documentation fees.

Visit NRC Latin America’s website in Spanish here.