Of 25,000 gang members in 2012, nearly a fifth were children, UNICEF estimated. Our work is costly and high risk. via REUTERS. This should not distract, however, from the fact that there are life-threatening problems that residents of Honduras struggle with daily. Of the 6,088,590 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX. Violence in Honduras is usually attributed to gangs and organised crime, but US federal prosecutors have implicated high-level politicians, the military and police in cocaine trafficking to the US . Violent crime is at its peak in Honduras. A quarter of women and girls become pregnant before turning 18the second-highest rate in Latin America. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The Honduran government on Saturday extended a state of emergency declaration for 45 days, expanding it to additional areas of the country in an effort to fight criminal gangs amid high levels of violence. So far, the state of exception in Honduras has produced some arrests and forced the gangs and other criminal groups to keep a lower profile. There are an estimated 115,000 gang members. In January 2020, the government shut down the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH). In June 2020, a new criminal code came into effect. The new criminal code that came into effect in June 2020 includes new alternative sanctions to detention for some minor crimes that could help reduce the prison population. And people do go. Honduras Honduras declares war against gangs - and for control of popular narrative Xiomara Castro's crackdown on gangs is also an attempt to counter allegations the government hasn't done. The inmates, all from Honduras, had reportedly escaped custody yesterday in Scott County. Prosecutors and whistleblowers have received death threats. Enjoy your travels! Again, thank you! A woman is killed every 23 hours on average, the National Autonomous University of Honduras Violence Observatory reports. Theyre fairly easy to use, but be aware of the risks. Independent travel is going to require A LOT of being careful. A local TV correspondent needed to do a live shot for one of the countrys most-watched news programs. I consent to my personal information being processed in accordance with The Broke Backpackers. The crime rates are improving and the government is putting a lot of effort into attracting more tourists. It has experienced one of the world's highest homicide rates, with multiple forms of violence linked to drug trafficking groups. In the 2010s, Honduras' homicide rate skyrocketed, peaking in 2011 and slowly declining since. On theCaribbean coast, there are plenty of delicious dishes to sample, with tortillasand things likerefried beansserved up with every meal. Do your own research. The poverty resulting from all this is what youll have to watch out for. Honduras has been through a lot in recent years. While homicide rates have dropped in recent years, Honduras is still the most dangerous country in the region, with 38 homicides per 100,000 people. In July, police arrested two men in connection to the 2020 killings of 45 TV reporter Germn Vallecillo Jr. and his cameraman, Jorge Posas, in La Ceiba. Extortion in Latin America continues to bring in fortunes for criminal gangs. Roatan is the more developed, more expensive, and family friendly big brother of Utila. And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. Its a country with a big heart. Make sure to check the reviews from previous travellers to check for any problems during their stay. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. But it was not a tremor, nor a tsunami. Its a wild world out there. Other ways to share Earlier this year, Honduras appeared set to follow an example set by another neighbor, Nicaragua, whose community-based policing approach was for years hailed for maintaining exceptionally low crime rates and minimal gang presence until the government turned the police into a repressive force against the people amid widespread protests in 2018. In 2018, the government created a special force to fight gangs (Fuerza Nacional Anti Maras y pandillas). Xiomara Castros crackdown on gangs is also an attempt to counter allegations the government hasnt done enough to combat crime. Allegations that senior politicians had been benefiting financially from the drug trade contributed to the unrest. Of course, being a woman anywhere is going to come with additional risk. Traveling around the country is a more complicated matter. The Covid-19 pandemic has further limited access to education for many children. Youll need to be a confident traveler. FILE - Honduras' President Xiomara Castro addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, Sept. 20, 2022. Traveling here is definitely adventurous, but that doesnt mean its off-limits for solo travelers. This is apretty safe area to visit. Use these tips to reduce the risk, but we also recommend that you pack some medication fit for a bad stomach. That means getting used to gangs, violence, and corruption. An illegal immigrant from Honduras was sentenced to 60 years in prison Friday for the killing of a Florida man in Jacksonville in 2021, prosecutors said. On 24 November, Hondurass leftwing president, Xiomara Castro, declared war on extortion a very real problem that causes economic stagnation, fuels violence and forces countless Hondurans to flee the country. In fact, according toInSight Crime there has definitely been around a 26% drop in crime since 2016. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. Her words echo those of Bukele, who has railed against human rights groups, government watchdogs and journalists who have questioned his tactics, saying that they are on the side of the gangs. There are definitely a fair few pros to solo travel. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. Especiallythrough a tour company. Honduras is one of the most important drug trafficking operation centers between South America and Mexico. In certain areas, yes Honduras is safe to travel for families. Honestly? Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Its just better to have a local driver drive you around. Members of the military police of public order get ready during a special operation in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different. I agree with Bukele and I want the same here. To Desafio, the Barrio 18 gang in Honduras was everything. Honduras declared the state of exception for 30 days in 162 neighborhoods, some politicians have already called for it to be extended in duration and territory. There have been protests due tocontested election results in late 2017. Category 5 hurricanes Eta and Iota hit Honduras in November 2020 and have had enduring impacts on farmersand the public generallyby destroying subsistence farms, killing livestock by the hundreds of thousands and reducing agricultural production. Since June, 2021 the United States has shared 6,088,590 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Honduras - free of cost. Youll be able to travel around here with relative ease. That means suncream, sun-hats, and limiting time in the sun. We can't put up any longer with workers being killed and paying extortion, Lanza said. One good thing I can say about Roatan is that the dive sites are excellent around the island. The flavors, spices and. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. In September, two men shot and killed journalist Luis Alonzo Almendares in Comayagua. "Today at dawn, in a single operation, we transferred the first 2,000 gang . Until his life grew increasingly violent. For Varela, who said she had never been a victim of extortion, but heard a lot about it as of late, human rights are just an obstacle. The new criminal code decriminalized defamation, but retains other crimes of honorincluding insult and slanderwhich have been used to prosecute journalists in the past. Theres alsoLa Ceiba. With those come violenceandpoverty. Share this via Email The most extensive database on organized crime in the Americas. Gangs attacking other gangs. The question of Is Honduras Safe? will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. Lucky for you,youre not a Honduran citizen. This perception has grown despite a slight reduction in homicides this year, according to preliminary data, and a significant drop over the past decade since Honduras held the ignominious title of the worlds most violent country. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). But if the peace in the condemning nations were to rupture the way it has in El Salvador and Honduras, we can bet they . El Salvador and Honduras have been condemned by the "civilized" world. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. It may not exactly be classed as safe, but Honduras shouldnt be ignored. Honduras isnt exactly what wed callsafe. Of course, you can book a local tour that can look after your safety during your trip, but make sure your research leaves you feeling absolutely confident in the reliability of the tour you choose. If we didnt have Bukeles example, we could probably look for some control and security responses based on strengthening institutions.. In July 2020, gunmen in police uniforms abducted five indigenous Garifuna men in Triunfo de la Cruz, where communities are claiming ancestral land from drug traffickers and developers. There are private coach servicesthat connect cities and towns that are usually moremaintained and more comfortable than the chicken buses. According to a State Department report last year, there are up to 10,000 gang members in Honduras, a country with roughly 8 million people. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Transgender woman activist killed in Honduras Yery Noel Medina Ulloa of Honduras pleaded guilty . Investigations were underway at time of writing. Around 191,000 people were internally displaced between 2004 and 2018, the Honduran government reported, and more than 75,000 Hondurans sought asylum abroad in 2017. Between December 2019, when prisons were placed under military control, and September 2020, 54 people died in eight prison incidents, the IACHR and OHCHR report. And taxi driversprobably wont have enough change to cover a big bill, socarry small denominations. Well be answering super important questions including How safe is Honduras right now? and Is it safe to live in Honduras? We also give loads of tips for solo travelers and families. Shootings are very common in poorer areas too. Women, children, the LGBTQ+ community, and returnees face ever growing conflict and risks, from the effects of climate change to the impacts of COVID-19 and violenceat home and on the streets.. Heres how to not get ill whilst trying local delights. Women in Guatemala: The New Faces of Extortion? They offer simple & flexible travel insurance, and safety advice to help you travel confidently. Honduras Private Sector and Anti-Extortion Police: An Unholy Alliance? Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. So, yeah. Gang violence and organized crime are leading causes of displacement from Honduras. The Inescapable Prison of Barrio 18 in Honduras, Death, Taxes, and Extortion: Why Latin American Companies Keep Paying Up, Timber Mafias - Preying on Latin Americas Forests, State and Community Responses to Extortion, A Mayor and a Wave of Narco Violence on Guatemala's Pacific, One Party, Many Crimes: The Case of Honduras National Party, Drug Trafficking and Political Protection in Paraguay: The Case of Cucho Cabaa, How Colombia Regulators Became Purveyors of Illegal Wood, The Logging Barons of Catacamas, Honduras, How Drug Cartels Moved into Illegal Logging in Mexico, Municipalities Fight Back in Guatemalas Gang-Preyed Upon Neighborhoods, How the Private Sector Helped Counter Rural Extortion in El Salvador. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to two main gangs : Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. Violence has long ruled here. All that in mind, there are places that expats dolive in Honduras. Theres a huge problem with single-use plastics in the Earths water and you dont have any assurance whatsoever that your bottles will be properly disposed of, even if youre careful to sort them in the proper bin. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. There is no exact number of the exodus, but according to the United States Customs and Border Protection Service, in 2020, they arrested 40,091 Hondurans, who were trying to enter the United States irregularly and until September 2021, this amount increased to 98,554 Honduran arrests, more than double the previous year. Many people do travel to this particular part of Honduras,even with their families. Honduras declared a state of exception as extortion cases rise, suspending constitutional rights in cities and deploying thousands of troops. In April, Public Order Military Police (PMOP) officers severely beat three brothers and shot two of themone fatallyfor allegedly violating a curfew in El Paraso in order to sell bread. TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The Honduran government on Saturday extended a state of emergency declaration for 45 days, expanding it to additional areas of the country in an effort to fight criminal. Gang wars and fights with the police are common in this city. As dusk fell, a helicopter hovered menacingly over a dusty football field where several hundred police officers stood in formation, waiting for the clock to strike six and the imposition of a state of exception partially suspending constitutional guarantees in Honduras. On Friday, Jorge Lanza the leader of the bus operators in Honduras, supported the move, saying bus drivers were tired of being threatened and killed for not paying protection money. Note that they are generally safe to visit during the day (with a bit of caution obviously), especially if you have a local guide, but should be fully avoided at night. Get the latest news about the IRC's innovative programs, compelling stories about our clients and how you can make a difference. In 2018, the last year for which statistics are available, 60 percent of perpetrators were domestic partners. Wed,03/01/23-8:24AM, 1,088 Reads 16,082 Statewide. By 2020 they want an additional milliontourists annually. Women - Honduras has the fifth-highest rate of violence against women in the world. The law also sanctions abortion providers. Abortionisillegalin Honduras in all circumstances. There are taxi ranks in a lot of locations. This coastal city is more welcoming togringos than other places and features beaches fringed bycoral reefsand theres a lot of new development happening here. The likelihood of you getting caught up in all that relies very much on you being somehow related to one of the gangs. Im nervous, repeated a young police officer driving a pickup truck crowded with heavily armed special forces officers. Corruption, poor governance, and. Police chief Gustavo Sanchez said the decision, based on what he told journalists were good results during December, will allow continued reductions in crime and violence. So backpacking Honduras isnt always just a breeze. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News Those who work in the transportation sector (taxi and bus drivers) are notable targets of gangs, but many are unable to flee for fear of retaliatory violence against themselves and their . Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committees Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. Copyright International Rescue Committee, 2023. crises in 2022 in Latin America and the Caribbean, top 10 crises the world cant ignore in 2022, calling for stronger international cooperation, 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid, 36% of funding received for 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan, 937,000 disaster-induced displacements in 2020, 3.3 million people facing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity in 2022. At the same time, we need to acknowledge that it will take time for systems to change, but families across Honduras cannot waitthey have immediate needs to be safe and secure. TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduran authorities reported on Monday the discovery of more than 1.6 million coca leaf bushes in the most important. Honduras isnt different from lots of other great backpacking countries in that youre never absolutely safe from food-borne illness. Almendares had repeatedly received death threats since 2017 in relation to his reporting. If youdo get one in the street, ensure that you tell the taxi driver that you dont want to share the taxi. Itcan be safe as a solo female traveler in Honduras. Youre connected. Theres a lot of fresh fish in places like, Steer clear of anything that you cant peel yourself. Chronic violence, climate crisis and the impacts of COVID-19 have deepened humanitarian needs and driven displacement. We provide cash to help people meet basic needs. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. However, if you decide to travel independently, youll face quite a few challenges. All rights reserved. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most-watched television news channel for 18 consecutive years. But traveling there is possible, of course. While there were a few violent crime incidents, most travelers have a safe and pleasant stay. People here live in pretty supreme poverty 60%of the population living in poverty really isa lot of people. Every year, more than 100,000 Hondurans are internally displaced, migrate, seek protection abroad, or are deported back to Honduras. La Ceibaon the northern coast, with mountains, jungles, and beaches, is a chilled and adventurous area to explore. But travelers DO take these buses. Security Minister Oscar Alvarez says police have identified two suspects among the five attackers . These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. The government bans emergency contraception, known as the morningafter pill, which can prevent pregnancy after rape, unprotected sex, or contraceptive failure. We dont want to recommend traveling to the rest of Honduras with your family. Efforts to reform public-security institutions have stalled. Alongside her husband, Sasha, she co-founded the. The US is losing allies in Latin America just as production of cocaine, fentanyl, and other synthetic drugs is going through the roof. Please support our mission investigating organized crime. In June, police detained and beat bus drivers who were allegedly protesting not being able to work due to lockdown restrictions. Classes were broadcast on television, radio, and online, in some cases with assignments sent via Whatsapp. Gangs control areas within the same communities,. ThisCentral Americancountry suffers from what many countries in the region have suffered from or are currently battling with namely corruption, gangs,anddrugs. The vaccine doses arrived in the Honduran capital on October 4 2021. You can too. 18th Street, also known as Calle 18, Barrio 18, Mara 18, or simply La 18 in Central America, is a multi-ethnic (largely Central American and Mexican) transnational criminal organization that started as a street gang in Los Angeles.It is one of the largest transnational criminal gangs in Los Angeles, with 65,000 members between the United States, Mexico, and Central America and is also allied . By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. Honduras, in general, is open and welcoming to children. Many Hondurans dont have access toclean waterandmedical care. The state of emergency, in place It submitted the case to the court in April 2019 due to Honduras lack of compliance with its recommendations, such as introducing comprehensive policies to map and prevent anti-LGBT violence and designing training programs on anti-LGBT violence for state security bodies. In these demonstrations, more than 1,500 were arrested and30 people were killed. Utila is unlike the rest of mainland Honduras in just about every way.