Doctors Without Borders warned on Monday that tens of thousands of migrants in Mexico are suffering from "extremely fragile" conditions due to overcrowding, lack of healthcare, and heightened risks of contracting the coronavirus. The humanitarian medical organization attributed this perilous situation, particularly in two border cities in northern and southern Mexico, to the "failure" of asylum policies and the ongoing deportation efforts by the United States.
In a statement, Doctors Without Borders announced the deployment of an emergency team to provide medical, psychological, and social assistance in Tapachula—near the border with Guatemala—where around 40,000 migrants are stranded. Christoph Yankover, a spokesperson for the organization, stated that "these individuals find themselves with very few housing options, crowded on top of each other or on the streets, in fragile health conditions with the risk of contracting COVID-19."
He added, "We are concerned about the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and despair that are evident among the population because of the lack of response from the authorities." Last week, Mexican security forces dispersed several migrant caravans heading from Tapachula to the United States, a move criticized for alleged excessive use of force. Additionally, Mexican authorities arrested two immigration officials on charges of assaulting a migrant.
Since President Joe Biden took office, there has been an increase in the number of migrants seeking to cross Mexico's northern border with the United States, drawn by his promise of a more humane immigration policy. In Reynosa (northeast), a border city with the U.S., around 2,000 migrants, mostly from Central American countries, are living in tents, according to Doctors Without Borders. The organization warned that these individuals face extreme temperatures, numerous risks, and a lack of essential services. Last week, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated he would send a letter to his U.S. counterpart, urging him to address the root causes of the migration crisis, emphasizing that detaining migrants is not a solution.
