HIAS’ primary purpose in Latin America and the Caribbean is to protect and respond to the needs of refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people. We work in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. Through dozens of field offices, mainly in border and remote locations, we provide legal protection, community mental health and psychosocial services (MHPSS), and economic inclusion support. We also work to end violence against women and girls and respond to emergencies.
The region is experiencing the largest and most complex displacement crisis in recent history. It’s estimated that more than 22 million people have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict, violence, or persecution in the region, representing about one-fifth of the number of displaced people globally.