North Triangle of Central America Photo: Ana Karina Delgado/NRC

FACT SHEET September 2019

NRC’s operations in

Humanitarian overview NRC’s operation

Displacement caused by generalised violence is af- We run operations in two countries. We work in Hondu- fecting communities in El Salvador, Guatemala, and ras, from our two field offices there, and in El Salvador, Honduras. Nearly 700,000 people have been internally where we work in partnership with the Norwegian Red displaced within these countries. Cross and the Salvadorian Red Cross.

Criminal gangs exert heavy territorial control. Extortion, People fleeing violence often remain anonymous in restrictions on mobility, threats and intimidation, kidnap- fear of reprisals. This makes it difficult for humanitarian ping, sexual violence and homicides are common. Mas- organisations, including NRC, to reach them. sacres occur regularly. This context has been likened to a war situation.

The internally displaced people live in slums or informal settlements in big cities that are increasingly controlled by gangs, and lack basic services, education, and in- come opportunities.

Despite nascent government efforts, the inability of the governments to protect people forces many to flee their countries. Most flee to Mexico and the US, or to Costa Rica and Panama. Hundreds of thousands are deported back to their home countries, where they require assistance and protection. NRC Honduras In 2018, Honduras, Guatemalans, Salvadorans and Established 2014 Mexicans were in the top ten nationalities claiming asy- International staff 3 lum in the world, alongside people from Syria, Venezue- National staff 24 la, South Sudan and Afghanistan.

www.nrc.no BELIZE Gulf Of Honduras NRC North Triangle of

CentralCARIBBEAN America GUATEMALA SEA Country office Bogotá HONDURAS Areas of operation Honduras: Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and Choloma El Salvador: San Salvador EL SALVADOR Guatemala: Ciudad de Guatemala NICARAGUA

NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN

NRC Colombia Phone: +51 1 3171481 Country director: Christian Visnes www.nrc.org.co Email: [email protected] Address: Carrera 9 # 81A – 26

Education Information, counselling and legal assistance (ICLA) In Honduras, we aim to ensure that children and youth To protect Hondurans and Salvadorians who had to flee have access to education and safe schools. Our teams: their homes, we:

• identify out-of-school children and youth, and estab- • provide information and counselling rights to dis- lish study groups for those who want to continue placed people their education • provide humanitarian assistance to Hondurans and • prepare children to resume education activities and Salvadorians in need of international protection who also to gain basic skills to remain safe have been deported back from Mexico and the US • promote and provide safe education opportunities • provide humanitarian assistance to meet basic needs • support local and national institutions to fulfil dis- • support the Honduran and El Salvador govern- placed children’s right to education ments at local and national level to develop legal • strengthen the capabilities of local communities, an frameworks or improve practices to protect the important step towards safeguarding their rights rights of the forcibly displaced • provide services to ensure access to Refugee Sta- tus Determination (RSD) and housing, land and property rights for people in need of international protection in Panama and Costa Rica

NRC Honduras is grateful for the generous support from our donors:

Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Aﬀairs

Disaster Preparedness – European Commission (DIPECHO) Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration (BPRM)