Central America and the Caribbean have faced several humanitarian emergencies in recent years, some of the most important are:
In January 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, leaving more than 220,000 dead, 300,000 injured, and more than 1.5 million homeless.
Hurricane Mitch, which affected Central America in 1998, was one of the most devastating natural disasters in the region’s history, leaving more than 11,000 dead and damages totaling $6.2 billion. In recent years, several hurricanes have affected the region, such as Hurricane Matthew in Haiti (2016), Hurricane Irma and María in the Caribbean (2017), and Hurricane Eta and Iota in Central America (2020), causing deaths, floods and landslides.
The region has faced a migration crisis in recent years, with thousands of people fleeing violence, poverty and lack of opportunity in countries such as Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, and seeking refuge in Mexico and the United States.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the Central American and Caribbean region, causing the deaths of thousands of people and seriously affecting the region’s economy and health systems.
In June 2018, the eruption of the Fuego volcano in Guatemala left more than 100 dead, dozens missing, and thousands of people displaced.
These are just some of the major humanitarian emergencies that have affected Central America and the Caribbean in recent years, but there are many more that have also had a significant impact on the region.
