TEGUCIGALPA, Oct 20 (Reuters) – About 250 Honduran migrants have been joined by a group of Venezuelans fleeing poverty and trying to reach the United States, migration officials said on Thursday.
Local TV showed a group of mostly young Hondurans leaving the northern city of San Pedro de Sula, the traditional departure point since 2018 for migrants seeking to reach the United States.
Honduras’ National Institute of Immigration (INM) said members of the group since the morning have been walking along the so-called Western Highway, which leads to Guatemala, wanting to reach the border post known as Agua Caliente.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
“About 250 Hondurans left and they were joined by a group of Venezuelans stranded here in the country,” INM spokeswoman Joseana Martinez told Reuters. To see also : US warns of sanctions against Russia’s munitions suppliers.
INM did not specify how many Venezuelans were in the group.
When leftist President Xiomara Castro came to power in January, she promised to adopt measures to prevent mass migration from the Central American country, where nearly three-quarters of the population live in poverty and severe financial stress.
Analysts say the floods and landslides caused by hurricane Julia in recent weeks have caused economic problems and poor living conditions, leading to the impact of tropical storm Eta and Hurricane Iota in 2020.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
Reporting by Gustavo Palencia On the same subject : What kind of NATO do Europe and the United States need?.
Editing by Bill Berkrot
