A. Situation Analysis
Description of the Emergency
On 12 November 2015, more than 1,000 Cuban nationals were reported to be camped out at Paso Canoas border crossing with Panama expecting the issuance of a pass permit not contemplated by Costa Rican legislation. Some of the foreign nationals claim to have been there for more than seven days, and they are not able to pay for food and lodgings due to lack of funds. These people have been spending the night in the open, outside of customs.
The most vulnerable people among this migrant population include children, pregnant women and the elderly.
Furthermore, according to International Organization for Migration (IOM) officials, there are approximately 60 Africans under similar conditions.
On 14 November, the government of Costa Rica issued a 7-day humanitarian visa to these migrants, initiating a massive mobilization toward Peñas Blancas at the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border crossing.
As of 15 November 2015, more than 100 Cuban nationals were reportedly still in Paso Canoas at the Panamanian border, and at least 800 more migrants are expected to arrive in the coming days. Furthermore, some 1,000 migrants attempting to cross the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border were turned back by Nicaraguan authorities; this further compounded their vulnerability due to the uncertainty caused by this refusal to let them pass and forced them to camp out in the vicinity of the border. For the Costa Rican authorities, this refusal involves having to set up collective centres and services the migrant in-country and possibly for the migrants still crossing or crossing into Costa Rica (the latter are not confirmed as of yet).
As of 18 November 2015, it was estimated that approximately 2,000 foreigners were in La Cruz, the closest town to the Peñas Blancas border crossing with Nicaragua. These migrants have been in Costa Rica for more than six days, during which time they have exhausted their finances, which has left them without access to food, hygiene and hydration, among other needs. Half of the migrants are in the CRRC-administered collective centres, and the other half are either sleeping outside of customs’ headquarters or other buildings. The CRRC has requested the IFRC’s assistance in supporting the migrants’ humanitarian needs with the IFRC’s Policy on Migration, which states the following in the introduction:
In engaging in the area of migration, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have the purpose –individually and together with the International Federation and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – to address the humanitarian concerns of migrants in need throughout their journey. They strive to provide assistance and protection to them, uphold their rights and dignity, empower them in their search for opportunities and sustainable solutions, as well as promote social inclusion and interaction between migrants and host communities.
Working with and for vulnerable migrants is one of the long-standing traditions of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It is rooted in its Fundamental Principles and universal character as well as in its volunteer and community basis. However, patterns and issues associated with migration change over time. Therefore, the CRRC continuously examines the ways of working with and for migrants to ensure that the Red Cross and Red Crescent action remains strong, coherent, and mindful of crosscutting issues. The Costa Rican Red Cross policy on migration is a living policy: It will be reviewed and, if necessary, revised as the National Society evaluates its implementation.
Summary of current response
Overview of the National Society: The Costa Rican Red Cross has 121 committees grouped into nine regions as follows:
Region 1: San José
Region 2: Alajuela
Region 3: Cartago
Region 4: Heredia
Region 5: Guanacaste
Region 6: Puntarenas
Region 7: Limón
Region 8: Southern Area
Region 9: Northern Area
As an auxiliary to state authorities, the Costa Rican Red Cross works in cooperation with them and under their leadership, to prepare communities and individuals and seeks to improve their self-protection, commits to raising awareness regarding risks and develops practical actions to reduce them. It also advocates and offers technical advice during the development of legislation, regulations and standards that facilitate actions in the event of largescale emergencies.
Regions 8 and 5, where the Costa Rican Red Cross is providing assistance, have a far-reaching structure of volunteers, ambulances and vehicles operating to support humanitarian actions. There are rings of response to assist in the event of a greater number of patients or an emergency.