The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) called for an investigation into the incident in which dozens of migrants died and for those responsible to be severely punished.
In recent days, it has been impossible not to think about the dangers faced by immigrants on their journey to seek a better life, due to the dramatic discovery inside a truck trailer in Texas of 48 dead people and 16 seriously injured people, including children; this has caused shock around the world.
This case is, to date, the deadliest related to human trafficking in recent U.S. history, and also affects countries such as Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, since several of the fatalities are from these countries.
According to the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Missing Migrants Project, nearly 3,000 people have been reported missing or killed trying to cross the border from Mexico into the United States since 2014. This latest tragedy brings the total number of deaths in the first six months of the year to 290.
The border between the United States and Mexico presents a great challenge: the region is known for its inhospitable geography, including desert regions and dangerous rivers.
Among the leading causes of death for migrants on the route to the United States are drowning and accidents. Also included are those who try to avoid natural hazards, hiding in vehicles, and facing other threats, such as the one that caused the deaths in San Antonio, Texas.
The fact that 67 people traveled crammed together, without any control in the vehicle, without ventilation, refrigeration or windows, and also without water and with temperatures almost 40ºC, has caused this tragedy and is proof of the desperation of the migrants.
The survivors of this catastrophe are recovering in the hospital from heatstroke and exhaustion. According to a report in The Texas Tribune, at least five of the 67 passengers were minors, and testimonies gathered by journalists at the scene of the tragedy indicate that most of the passengers were teenagers.
Finally, so far the United States federal authorities have captured 4 people who are already being prosecuted in court for the deaths of the migrants.
News report based on information from: BBC News, IOM and La Opinión.
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