Magdaleno has been travelling by train and bus for two weeks. He has a wife and three children at home. He’s making for the United States, where his brother lives, but he hasn’t told his brother that he’s coming. He was sad to leave but says that poverty drove him to leave his family behind.
CC BY-NC-ND / CICR / B. Brenda Islas
Ciudad Serdán, Puebla, Mexico
Alexis is 17. He’s from Honduras. He’s been travelling for eight days with his uncle and cousin. They’re going to find his father in the United States. But his cousin fell from a train and they have to wait in Mexico for him to recover.
CC BY-NC-ND / CICR / B. Brenda Islas
Ciudad Serdán, Puebla, Mexico
Selvin uses the telephone service provided by the Mexican Red Cross to call his family in Honduras. They haven’t heard from him in ten days and it’s important that they know where he is, as there’ll be nobody waiting for him when he gets to his destination.
CC BY-NC-ND / CICR / B. Brenda Islas
Ciudad Serdán, Puebla, Mexico
Germán has been away from Honduras for over eight months, attempting to cross into the United States. Although he worked en route, he didn’t earn enough money to get there. He decided to go home.
CC BY-NC-ND / CICR / B. Brenda Islas
Ciudad Serdán, Puebla, Mexico
Mariano left Honduras ten days ago, travelling by train and bus towards the United States. Once he gets to the border he’ll decide which city to head for. It depends who’s willing to help him.
CC BY-NC-ND / CICR / B. Brenda Islas
Ciudad Serdán, Puebla, Mexico
Joel spent three months in Mexico working in a circus to earn some money for the journey. But he didn’t make it into the United States and has decided to go home to spend Christmas with his family. He doesn’t think he’ll try again.
When we talk about migration, we shouldn't forget who we're really talking about. Millions of people are leaving everything behind to go in search of a better life, to find their family or because their life is in danger.
They face an uncertain and often perilous journey. They struggle to meet their most basic needs. Many do not reach their destination; some disappear or are detained. Some are deported, but the problems that drove them to leave in the first place will not be solved by their return. Services must be provided to meet their needs in the countries of origin, transit and arrival, which share responsibility for the lives and dignity of those who travel through their territory.
