At least 23,000 people fled Nicaragua to Costa Rica after the crisis: The UN

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Updated 17 hours ago

Countries such as Panama, Mexico and the United States also received asylum applications in the first half of 2018 with a significant spike in June, according to the UNHCR.

Most people fleeing violence in Nicaragua have fled to Costa Rica, where at least 23,000 people have been seeking asylum since the start of the crisis in April, said Tuesday. # 39; UN.

For months, the number of asylum applications filed by Nicaraguans in Costa Rica and other countries has increased exponentially, "said UNHCR spokesman William Spindler. at a press conference in Geneva 19659006] According to UNHCR, "Costa Rica has received the highest number of asylum applications, but Panama, Mexico and the United States have also registered an upward trend in the first half of 2018 with a significant spike in June. "

regional figures, but with respect to Costa Rica," there were about 8,000 asylum applications from Nicaraguan citizens since April and some 15,000 people got an appointment to check in afterwards. National processing capacity is out of date, "he said, citing data from the Costa Rican authorities

Currently, 200 asylum applications are registered every day in Costa Rica, according to UNHCR, which wants to help the authorities to increase this figure.More than 500 a day

The spokesman explained that UNHCR is strengthening its presence in Costa Rica, as well as other UN agencies and badociated NGOs, and is preparing to providing protection and immediate badistance to thousands of refugees Nicaraguan asylum seekers in the northern region of Costa Rica and around the capital, San José.

Many Nicaraguans fleeing their country are welcomed by some of the 100,000 to 150,000 Nicaraguan families who were already settled in Costa Rica before the crisis, according to UNHCR, which is preparing a regional plan to meet the needs of refugees.

Nicaragua lives apart On April 18, a protest movement against the government was severely repressed, resulting in more than 300 deaths and 2,000 injuries, according to several human rights organizations.