Recently, the President of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, announced that numerous individuals fleeing from Chiapas, Mexico, have entered Guatemala. This mass exodus is attributed to escalating violence fueled by clashes between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel.
Arévalo stated that these Mexican families sought refuge in the municipality of Cuilco, located in the department of Huehuetenango. This area is just over 30 kilometers from the Chiapan town of Amatenango de la Frontera.
"We have been coordinating with the authorities in Huehuetenango and Cuilco through the Ministry of Defense to provide assistance to those fleeing the confrontations occurring on the Mexican side," the president mentioned. His comments followed inquiries from reporters regarding the situation, including testimonies shared by Huehuetenango’s governor, Elsa Hernández.
Hernández highlighted the critical nature of the situation, stating, "We are facing a risk for the Guatemalan population… We have preliminary data indicating that approximately 300 individuals have been displaced from Mexican territories to Cuilco." This information was shared in an interview with local station Radio Mass 98.9.
According to the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) in Guatemala, as of July 24, around 580 people, including children, women, and elderly individuals, had crossed the border, seeking safety. On the other hand, Major Ann Marie Argueta, spokesperson for the National Defense Ministry, reported to AFP that around 180 displaced persons are currently sheltering in the village of Ampliación Nueva Reforma. As a response, the Guatemalan military has increased security at the border.
As of this writing, Mexican authorities have not commented on the forced displacement, leaving the exact number of affected individuals uncertain. Since January 2024, areas like Chicomuselo in Chiapas have witnessed families leaving their communities amid ongoing armed attacks from organized crime.
On June 8, the Attorney General’s Office coordinated efforts to protect over four thousand individuals in Tila who were hiding in their homes due to waves of gunfire, property arson, and forced recruitment. Just twenty days later, on June 28, a video surfaced revealing the shocking brutality of criminal groups in the region; it depicted members of the Sinaloa Cartel showcasing the bodies of 19 rivals. These bodies were found stacked in the back of a dump truck a few days later by authorities in La Concordia.
The increasing violence and lawlessness in the area have catalyzed this humanitarian crisis, drawing attention to the urgent need for support and intervention in both Mexico and Guatemala. For further reading about the situation, you may check articles from credible news sources like BBC or Reuters.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2024/07/25/cientos-de-familias-huyen-de-chiapas-a-guatemala-por-violencia-del-cjng-y-el-cartel-de-sinaloa/
