The Guatemalan and Honduran Red Cross Societies are providing assistance and care to hundreds of migrants who have crossed the border from Honduras to Guatemala.

In Guatemala, Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to Entre Rios in the department of Izabal on the northeast border with Honduras to support people as they arrive. In all, more than 2,300 people are believed to have crossed over in early October 2020. María Elena Ajpacaja of the Guatemalan Red Cross said: “We are seeing many vulnerable people crossing the border and they desperately need assistance. Among the crowd of migrants, we are identifying pregnant women, children of different ages, and elderly people. Many of the people we are treating are dehydrated or suffering from various injuries after having walked very long distances in recent days.”

Guatemalan Red Cross volunteers are providing a range of services, including pre-hospital care, water, hygiene items, snacks, face masks, and information on COVID-19 prevention. In Honduras, three Red Cross humanitarian service points have been operational since September 30, 2020, providing water and face masks, together with information about safety, security, and virus prevention.

Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies