Food scarcity is becoming a concern on Mexico’s southern border due to a new massive migration wave

The unprecedented new wave of migration at the southern border of Mexico has led to a shortage of food in supermarkets and shelters, warn shelter directors and activists in the region who demand government intervention.

“In supermarkets, eggs, bread, rice, beans, and sugar have already become scarce, and the price of sugar has doubled. It’s worrisome for both Mexicans and migrants alike,” explained Lorenza Reyes Núñez, the director of the “Todo Por Ellos” shelter, in an interview with EFE.

The activist denounced that Mexican authorities “are not doing anything” to stop the migratory flow and are leaving all the work to the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comar), which has collapsed due to the arrival of thousands of foreigners daily in recent weeks.

Although Tapachula, on the border of Mexico with Guatemala, is accustomed to receiving migrants from around the world seeking to reach the United States, Reyes Núñez stated that “in the city’s history, there has never been as many migrants as this year.”

The situation at the southern border reflects the “unprecedented increase in migrant populations in Central America and Mexico,” as warned by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) this week.

This month, Tapachula has witnessed thousands of migrants stampeding to secure an asylum appointment at Comar, demonstrations at the offices of the National Migration Institute (INM), and undocumented individuals sleeping on the streets.

Dani Rorube, a migrant from Cuba, said they are unhappy about the lack of transit documents, so they plan to form a caravan to leave Tapachula.

The “Todo Por Ellos” shelter receives around 6,000 migrants monthly, while the “Belén” shelter, located at the city’s entrance, houses about 500 migrants, exceeding its usual capacity threefold.

Gerber Bermúdez, the administrator of the Jesus el Buen Pastor shelter, mentioned that they are running low on food.

This shelter typically caters to an average of 1,500 migrants, including around 400 children, in addition to hundreds of people sleeping outside the shelter because there is no longer room to accommodate them.

TYT Newsroom