Within the framework of World Refugee Day, the Nicaragua Human Rights Collective Nunca Más denounced that around 605,043 Nicaraguans have been forced to leave the country since 2018. The social, political, economic and rights crisis that persists in the Central American nation is the main reason why citizens seek refuge in another country.
In a report, the agency explained that the majority of displaced citizens have chosen to formally request some category of international protection either in the United States, Costa Rica, Mexico or Spain, countries where Nicaraguans usually migrate.
“Due to this serious human rights crisis in Nicaragua, as of April 2018 the largest exodus in the country’s history has been generated, between April and December 2022, at least 462,810 Nicaraguans had been forcibly displaced out of the country” , stressed the human rights entity.
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Likewise, it indicated that at least 108 thousand 986 more compatriots had left the country in the first five months of 2023, due to the political persecution that the Daniel Ortega regime maintains against the people.
“Added to this, since the end of 2022 the United States created the figure of the Humanitarian Parole, which conceptually would be a temporary stay permit in the country for humanitarian reasons. (…) As of May 2023, the United States has approved and received at least 19,000 Nicaraguan applicants for international protection through the figure of humanitarian parole,” he added.
The agency also highlighted that “as of the closing date of this update, more than 605,043 Nicaraguans had to leave their homes due to the sociopolitical crisis that Nicaragua has been experiencing since 2018 and as a result of political violence.”
“This is an alarming situation, since the global population in Nicaragua for 2021, according to World Bank data, is around 6,850,540 Nicaraguans, therefore, if to date only 605,043 Nicaraguans are registered in the United States, Costa Rica, Mexico and Spain forcibly displaced, represents approximately 9% of the total population of Nicaragua,” he said.
The Nunca Más Nicaragua Collective also highlighted that the majority of Nicaraguans who have chosen to leave the country are young people under 35 years of age.
“Most of the forcibly displaced people are young students or recent graduates, which is why there is a high rate of flight of professionals and Nicaraguan labor, who also see their dreams and life projects cut short,” he pointed out.
“If the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Nicaragua continues, we are faced with the fact that by December 2023, more than 804,000 Nicaraguans will have abandoned their homes and families to protect their lives and search not only for international protection, but also for better living conditions. dignified that are compatible with the realization of their fundamental rights and freedoms,” he warned.
