Hundreds Flee to Guatemala Amid Drug-Related Violence in Southern Mexico

More than 500 people in southern Mexico have fled to Guatemala amidst violent clashes between criminal groups fighting over drug trafficking routes. Families, including children and elderly, sought refuge as at least 19 people were reported killed. Authorities focus on stabilization and protection efforts.

More than 500 people in southern Mexico have fled to neighboring Guatemala this week amid armed clashes between criminal groups fighting over drug trafficking routes and other crimes, authorities from both nations said on Thursday. The displacements began this week, according to reports from the Guatemalan Migration Institute (IGM), as men, women, children and the elderly sought refuge in the town of Cuilco, bordering the Mexican state of Chiapas.

According to the IGM, these families have been forcibly displaced into Guatemala due to rising violence in southern Mexico and at least 19 violent deaths were reported in recent days. Over the weekend, videos on social media revealed residents running to avoid gunfire in regions such as Chicomuselo, in Chiapas.

A source, remaining anonymous for security reasons, informed that criminal groups in Mexico are recruiting youngsters as young as 15 years old into their ranks. Many individuals have fled to Guatemala for safety, while others sought refuge in communities within Chiapas. Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo confirmed that local authorities are coordinating efforts to support these affected families.

The Chiapas security ministry reported that the military is working to stabilize the area. Meanwhile, Mexico's defense ministry hasn't responded to requests for comment. On Thursday, the Chiapas government announced that 107 vulnerable people from the Tzanembolom community are under state protection. The advocacy area of the Fray Bartolome de Las Casas Human Rights Center in Chiapas reported that from 2023 to June, about 15,780 people have been forcibly displaced by armed violence.

(With inputs from agencies.)