World Vision presents a study on forced migration of children and adolescents in Central America

In the context of the migratory crisis that affects the Central American region, World Vision offices in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua (CA4) joined forces to conduct the study entitled “Triggers of the migratory flows of Children and Adolescents in Central America.”.

The objectives of this study were to analyze, disseminate, and act upon the reasons that motivate the forced migration of Central American families before and during the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in the aftermath of tropical storms ETA and IOTA.

A total of 1,526 surveys were administered by telephone and face-to-face to immediate relatives or people related to migrants. 81.2% of the surveys were administered in rural areas, and the remaining 18.8% in urban areas.

Some of the relevant data of the study indicate that the main reasons that motivate children and adolescents to migrate are:

Improving their living conditions

Reuniting with their relatives

Preventing domestic violence or criminal groups

68% 11% 7.9%

On the other hand, one of the most alarming data obtained from this study is that most of the migrant children and adolescents (45.4%) travel accompanied by a human smuggler (coyote), followed by 40% who travel accompanied by a relative. 4.9% traveled alone, while 1.3% (traveled) in caravans with one or more relatives and 0.9% traveled in caravans alone.

In connection with adult migants, it was observed that:

• 77% of the respondents migrated irregularly.

•The main occupation of migrants is farming.

• 73% of the adult respondents reported having relatives living abroad.

Similarly, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy of Central American families is shown as follows:

•34.7% reported that they lost their job.

•28.4 % did not continue earning an income.

•15.7% reported a lack of food/ food insecurity.

Additionally, in the wake of hurricanes Eta and Iota, 25.9% of adult migrants stated that they lost their crops and 9.3% (replied that they) lost their job. The consequences of natural disasters have a direct relation as a push factor.

Disclosure at interorganizational level

The results of the study were disclosed in a virtual forum held on October 27th, 2022. The forum was attended by panelists Jeanneth Martínez Cooper, head of the IMO office in Nicaragua; Efraín Sánchez, Child Protection Officer at UNICEF Guatemala; Rita CrowleyOmelas, Protection Officer at ACNUR El Salvador and Sally Valladares, Expert at International Migrations Honduras. And the moderator was Mishelle Mitchell, Director of Advocacy and Communication in Latin America and the Caribbean at World Vision.

During this forum, each panelist analyzed in more detail the different approaches of the study of forced migration and contextualized the characteristics of this migratory crisis at Central American level.