Migration: Political, Humanitarian Matter

This week, the prices of food decreased, bringing potential relief to the “hunger pandemic” that came along with COVID-19. Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court restored the program “Stay in Mexico” to lower the number of migrants moving to the country. Finally, FAO shared stories of migrant women and their difficulties, as part of its efforts to put in perspective the situation that many groups face. 

 Interested in more? Here are the week’s major headlines in Talent!

• Food prices decreased worldwide, bringing potential relief after world hunger worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) benchmark report shows the food price index averaged at 123 points, 1.2 percent less than in the previous month but still 31 percent above its level in the same period of 2020. According to OXFAM, since the pandemic began, poor communities around the world have repeatedly been sending a clear and urgent message: “We will die sooner from hunger than from COVID-19.” Deaths from hunger are exceeding those caused by the virus and it is becoming increasingly worse. By the end of 2021, the number of people in extreme poverty is expected to reach 745 million, 100 million more since the pandemic began. The price of food, another factor that influences world hunger, according to Unicef, is being influenced by political instability since the weakness of institutions prevents them from taking measures to fight against malnutrition. Another factor is climate change, which may force over 9.2 million people to move due to droughts that damage crops and reduce drinking water. Full story here. 

• During President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s morning press conference, he mentioned that the US Supreme Court decreed to restore the program “Quedate en México” (“Remain in Mexico”) to prevent illegal migrants from heading north of the border. López Obrador commented, “We will always try to have a very good relationship with the US government, as we had when President Donald Trump was there and now with President Joe Biden. The problem is being addressed. In the background, they are looking to invest so that there is development, that there are jobs and well-being in the countries of Central America; that way, people are not forced to emigrate because nobody leaves their home for pleasure; they do it because of need.” Full story here. 

• FAO shared the story of rural women’s migration to raise awareness about the situation a majority of migrants are living in. Many migrants head to the US and Mexico for better job opportunities but the lack of social protection coverage for agricultural day laborers leads to an absence of care spaces for their children, healthy food, health services, adequate housing and employment benefits, among others. The article mentions that “In Mexico, it is estimated that there are approximately 323,000 day laborers. Between 30 and 40 percent of this population is made up of migrants who travel as a family, so it is estimated that there are 5.9 million people with their families.” Full story here.