Humanitarian needs surge in Mexico: new report highlights gaps in support for displaced populations

Mexico City, Mexico, October 22, 2024 - With the humanitarian crisis related to mixed migration in Mexico steadily worsening during 2024, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) published a situation report highlighting the main needs and risks that thousands of displaced people experience in the country, and a set of priorities to respond.

Despite reports of decreasing numbers of encounters at the US-Mexico border, thousands of displaced people continue to arrive in Mexico every day. For instance, between January and July 2024, over 700,000 people on the move were detained. The protracted humanitarian crisis in the country has been exacerbated by factors such as the Mexican government's failure to acknowledge it, changing policies and practices that hinder safe and regular transit through the country, and the deteriorating security situation.

Urgent needs persist among those who are traveling through, or waiting in, Mexico: In August, the IRC interviewed over 150 people who received services from its Emergency Mobile Units in the states of Chiapas, Chihuahua, and Veracruz, as well as Mexico City. Based on the information provided, the IRC identified that the priority needs for people on the movewere food, the primary concern for 64% of respondents, followed by shelter (55%) and safe transport (48%). Survey respondents also highlighted needs related to medical care, as access remains complicated due to a lack of information, despite the right to free health services, and obtaining documents for legal stay in Mexico, which is hampered by restrictive migration policies and backlogs in asylum applications.

Rafael Velásquez, Country Director for Mexico at the IRC, said:

"There is no doubt that Mexico is the last mile for thousands of people who left their homes in search of safety, whether they are trying to find it here or in the US. What is also true is that the organizations providing protection and asylum services have been operating beyond capacity for years.

"Displaced individuals not only encounter limited alternatives to cover their needs and access basic services but are exposed to several risks.As crises escalate worldwide, we can only expect to see more and more people in need of protection arriving in the country. To avoid a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Mexico, international actors should step up to ensure migration mechanisms are safe, fair and effective. We call on the international community to step up their support and funding to strengthen the humanitarian responses in Mexico."

After analyzing information collected from January to August 2024, provided by 817 people in the cities of Reynosa, Matamoros and Tapachula, DRC identified several protection risks, also included in the Situation Report. Over 40% of respondents said that a member of their household had experienced violence while in Mexico, including incidents like extortion, kidnapping, physical aggression, and gender-based violence. Other risks are arbitrary detention and family separation.

Funding for the humanitarian response in Mexico remains scarce and the needs are growing. In the Situation Report, the IRC and DRC outlined a series of priority actions that are required to reduce the humanitarian crisis, such as:

• Mobile response teams and flexible assistance modalities, for example, cash that allows people to decide how to cover their essentials.
• Orientation and legal aid for individuals or families who see Mexico as a potential safe destination, which also requires access to income generation sources and other integration mechanisms.
• Psychosocial support, particularly for survivors of gender-based violence and other types of violence, as well as protection services tailored to children, who make up approximately 30% of the population on the move.

More details of the humanitarian crisis related to mixed migration in Mexico can be found in the Situation Report developed by the IRC and DRC here.