"The Caravan" | An evidence the difference between migrants and refugees

In recent days we have witnessed numerous headlines that speak of the migrant caravan in which hundreds of Hondurans go to the United States , facing two thousand kilometers full of obstacles and dangers. Although organized caravans have taken place several times in recent years with the aim of raising awareness about the inhuman conditions of Central America, it is the latter that has especially highlighted the gap that exists between the conception of migrants and that of refugees .

In Supercurioso we believe that It is essential to understand the differences that exist between these two terms to understand the current problem . If you want to discover the scope of this confusion, do not miss the information that we provide in this article.

"La Caravana" shows the difference between migrants and refugees

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The caravan Acnur 2

Hondurans heading north in the "caravan", October 18, 2018. Reuters / Edgar Garrido.

Since the coup that took place in 2009, Honduras has become the transit country par excellence for shipments of cocaine to the US market and, by extension, it has also been established as one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Their cities are subject to the control of gangs that operate under a failed security system and a good part of its population not only lives in a state of poverty but also in a climate of constant threat. It is for this reason that the caravan has become a physical evidence of a structural problem of these societies that violates human rights of its citizens.

However, the caravan of Honduran Central Americans is widely referred to as "migrant caravan", a misnomer that, as we have been announcing, can lead to enormous misunderstandings: the fact that its members do not flee a declared war does not mean that they do not flee from similar and even worse conditions . Not taking into account this nuance can greatly affect the approach to the problem, since while migrants are treated according to the relevant laws, refugees need protection in order to lead a minimally dignified life.

The important difference between migrants and refugees

  • What is a refugee? He is a person who has fled his country and who can not or wants to return because of fear of being persecuted because of his condition; whether it be race, religion, nationality, politics or the particular social group.
  • What is an economic migrant? It is someone who leaves their country of origin to find a better life elsewhere. They do not flee from any persecution and, therefore, they do not have the right to receive international protection.

By encompassing refugees with migrants in the same forum, and taking into account the specified definitions, the idea that migration is a problem and that all migrants have problems is implicitly endorsed. The main problem, however, comes when some claim that a refugee is one who necessarily escapes a war. And here some doubts arise: Is it necessary for a war to be declared so that it is considered as such? Is it necessary for a refugee to flee a declared war to receive the necessary attention?

In this regard, it should be borne in mind that the rates of homicidal violence in Honduras and El Salvador are vastly superior to some countries with a declared war and recognized. And it is that the importance of the climate of threats, intimidation, murder, extortion, forced recruitment in schools and the general atmosphere of fear and insecurity can not and should not be minimized for longer. And refugees can not and should not continue to be cataloged and treated as migrants.

the caravan mexico

Mexico erected as a large refugee camp

In short, we can affirm that this has been a misnamed migratory crisis despite the evidence that the problem is of a different nature, and that It has been presented as a problem of migrant management instead of a protection problem of victims who should be treated as refugees.

And is that while it is true that the conflict in the country is different from those of the Middle East or Africa, the impact on the lives of its citizens is equally catastrophic. As a result, Central American asylum applications continue to grow and, in the meantime, Mexico, which assumes much of the resolution of the problem, is slowly becoming a large refugee camp .

As always, we encourage you to leave us a comment with your impressions. What is your vision of the phenomenon? Do you think that international institutions are offering the best possible answers? Do you think there is a real confusion between migration phenomena? Leave us all your contributions, and we will read them with great interest.


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