More than 100 Africans, including women, men and kids, are stranded in El Jobo community center, 26 kilometers west from La Cruz, near the northern border, hoping to go to Nicaraguan territory and continue to The United States.
Africans want the Costa Rican government to help and treat them just as it did with Cuban migrants, since they come from a distant continent, they can’t speak or understand Spanish and they have no money because criminal gangs and coyotes have taken advantage of their situation.
The health impact of this situation especially affects children. Some of them have the flu and diarrhea. In addition, women are getting sick and four of them are pregnant. One of them is expected to give birth next month.
“We just want to arrive to America, that’s all. Our families are suffering a lot in Africa, why do we need meat, soup or any food if they don’t have anything? We want help, just as the Cubans did,”
said Philip Moneliry.
Rosa Emilia Molina, deputy mayor from La Cruz stated
“we are working with the National Commission for Emergency (CNE) and the Red Cross to help the Africans. We have provided them with food, health care and we installed latrines for them.”
Moreover, Jairo Torres, from the Red Cross declared:
“children with the flu were taken to La Cruz Clinic. We are monitoring any situation that could affect their health.”