Guatemala City (AP) - A significant number of Mexicans, totaling nearly 600 individuals, have crossed the border into Guatemala to seek refuge from the ongoing violence perpetrated by drug cartels in Mexico. Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo has confirmed that his administration is actively collaborating with local authorities in Huehuetenango and the municipality of Cuilco to provide assistance to these Mexican refugees who are fleeing the conflict between rival groups within Mexico.
According to a government report obtained by The Associated Press, the refugees shared harrowing stories of leaving their homes due to severe food shortages and escalating violence between organized crime factions. The group of 580 individuals includes men, women, children, and elderly individuals, all seeking safety and respite from the turmoil.
On the Mexican side of the border, Chiapas' state security agency has not reported any incidents related to the mass exodus. Requests for comments from Mexico's foreign affairs ministry and National Guard regarding the situation in Guatemala remain unanswered.
The ongoing battle for control of lucrative smuggling routes for drugs, migrants, and firearms between cartels from Sinaloa and Jalisco has spilled over into Chiapas, intensifying the conflict near the Guatemala border. This territorial dispute has resulted in significant displacement, with over 5,000 individuals forced to flee violence in Tila, Chiapas, earlier this year.
Reports from September of last year revealed that cartels had disrupted electrical power in Chiapas towns near the Guatemalan border, preventing government intervention to restore services. The dire situation has prompted Mexican families to seek refuge in various locations within the Cuilco municipality in Guatemala, with tragic consequences such as the death of a 91-year-old diabetic woman who was unable to bring her medication along and passed away during the journey.
The influx of Mexican refugees into Guatemala underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and humanitarian aid to address the escalating violence and displacement caused by drug cartel conflicts in the region.
