Axis: Humanitarian Action

Office: Costa Rica

Human mobility flows have always existed; however, today, the contexts faced by people in mobility are extremely vulnerable. Costa Rica is currently both a transit and destination country and is a key step for migration in Central America, something that generates a constant migratory flow. That is why CADENA Costa Rica decided to deploy an intervention to support people in mobility situations throughout 2023. This intervention focused on Paso Canoas, a city located on the Costa Rica-Panama border; the main border crossing for thousands of people.

With the support of Start Network, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other agencies and non-governmental organizations, we attended to the basic needs of the population in mobility, prioritizing dignified treatment and quality attention. A total of 20 people took part in the days of supply distribution, and we counted on CADENA volunteers and personnel to carry out this intervention. Together, we were able to provide medical attention and hand to hand delivery of basic necessities. We provided: 3,196 plates of food. We also provided hot water; 4,633 bottles of water; 45,908 articles of clothing; 3,404 pairs of shoes; 2,930 hygiene kits; 16,551 diapers; 4,770 water filters; and 24 mattresses. In the end, we benefited 92,941 people in a situation of mobility, in one of the highest peaks of the migratory crisis in the country.

We thank Calox, Damas Israelitas, Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), UN, Red Point and Ropa en Tiempos de Esperanza for their donations and assistance throughout this intervention. We also acknowledge Start Network and IOM, whose participation was essential to carry out this project.