Migrant support organizations in Mexico suffer from EU funds cut

The government of the The United States is the largest help donor in the world. In fiscal year 2023 contributed 71.9 billion dollars in foreign aid, which represents 1.2 % of the total federal expenditure of that year, which was more than 6.1 billion dollars.

However, according to United Nations (UN) data, which The US government contributes more than 40% of all aid humanitarian

This is why dozens of organizations and humanitarian projects around the world are in check. The freezing of these funds is another hard blow for Mexican associations, which already live without support from the federal government.

Since the last six -year term, then President Andrés Manuel López Obrador ordered the support of all non -governmental organizations. “Many of these organizations, which perhaps depended a little on the Mexican government, had been depending much more on the US government and now They already took those funds. So, on the one hand, they have to offer services to more people with high levels of vulnerability, for being returned, for not having a job, which may have a dependency or not, and without resources, because now they have everything frozen, ”explains Zara SNAPP, director of the RIA Institute.

“They need our support”

Lilia Pacheco, Operational Director of Prevention AC, explains that the cancellation of US funds has negatively impacted the association he directs. In Tijuana, Baja California, this organization offers programs to reduce damage and risks to drug users, support for people in street and migrant street. Now they see at risk these initiatives and some research studies.

Prevention obtained supplies from the International Organization for Migration (IIM)but the agency informed them that he could no longer help them.

“An organization such as IOM, which was always supporting us with inputs, not directly with cash funds but with supplies, already stopped. They already told us that this situation in both countries already affected them and, ultimately, they will not be able to collaborate with us. This impacts the services we offer, ”he explains.

All prevention services are free. They include access to showers, hygiene products, food and medical care.

Its damage reduction and syringe reduction programs reached people with HIV, tuberculosis and drug users, so they received censid financing years, until López Obrador canceled those calls.

To get additional resources, Prevention collaborates with the National Psychiatry Institute in certain research. The association participated in the survey to make a diagnosis of the consumption of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamines on the border. However, the payment they receive in return is not enough to operate for more than 6 or 8 months, he says.

The biggest challenge It will come once a month of the first deportations is fulfilled because many migrants are in street situation When governments’ shelters do not allow them to stay for more than 30 days.

“And those people are here, stranded, looking for how to eat, to be able to survive, to survive and need the support of organizations.”