Entities that work as defenders of Nicaraguan refugees in Costa Rica held a forum in commemoration of World Refugee Day, exposing the situations faced by citizens who decide to go into exile. The organizations demand more support actions for those who arrive in the neighboring country to the south in search of protecting their integrity.
The Nicaraguan Human Rights Collective Never Again reminded that no one is illegal regardless of the condition for which they decide to settle in another nation. The NGO assured that they maintain four axes as a shelter priority for victims of state violence and gender violence, people who are victims of human rights violations and those who need protection.
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They stressed that during 2021 they provided direct care to 2,673 people, 214 protected people in safe spaces and 73 citizens supported with their enterprises in Costa Rica. With regard to 2022, 1,600 people have been directly assisted so far, 92 people in safe spaces and 15 people supported in entrepreneurship.
Costa Rica is the country that has received the most refugee applicants of Nicaraguan origin. The authorities calculate that from 2018 to date there is a record of about 200,000 requests. The majority of citizens left their nation due to the political crisis and persecution they suffered from the Daniel Ortega regime.
With greater repression and persecution within Nicaragua, more than 30,795 new refugee applications are reported in the neighboring country, according to official data, this being one of the main destinations of citizens along with the United States, Spain and Panama.
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According to figures, there are currently approximately 300,000 Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica. On May 30, dozens of exiled Nicaraguans marched in San José to continue demanding justice for those killed during the social protests in 2018 and the safe return of those in exile.
Many families say they have had to go into exile with their children to protect their lives and start a new life. According to organizations, about 120 thousand Nicaraguans are refugees in the neighboring country.
