Honduras, El Salvador – Violence (ECHO) (ECHO Daily Flash of 8 March 2016)

An increasing level of violence has been observed in Central America in the last few days. On 3 March, an indigenous rights activist was killed in Honduras, followed by execution of 12 youth in the capital Tegucigalpa on 5 March. On 3 March, 11 workers were kidnapped and executed in El Salvador, with the level of violence doubling in the country in the first two months of the year and reaching its highest level since the end of the civil war.

Increasing gang violence is worsening the already precarious humanitarian situation of the population in the affected countries. The limited access to basic services such as health and education, and growing risk of indiscriminate violence and death, requires an increased multisectorial humanitarian response.

A related surge in unaccompanied children from Central American countries has been observed arriving in the United States, with an estimated 75 000 children expected this year, raising major protection concerns.