By: Editor Yessica Morales

*In that border region, the population in human mobility was in the middle of the cartel war and what they seek is to survive.

Last May 25, the Jalisco Nueva Generación and Sinaloa cartels confronted each other near the communities of Nueva Independencia (known as Lajerio) and Candelaria located in Frontera Comalapa. In that context: one of these groups kidnapped six young men to force them to participate in the confrontations.

This alerted the population and they began to escape that same day. To date, it is estimated that there are about 3,000 residents of both communities and others nearby in a situation of forced displacement.

Six days after those events, a thousand uniformed officers carried out an operation to enter the area. They left in a caravan from the military base located in the municipality of Comitán, but 53 kilometers away (about 32 miles), still far from the displacement zone, they diverted to the town of Joaquín Miguel Gutiérrez, known as Quespala.

There the population, under the control of one of the cartels, had crossed a trailer and, armed with sticks and stones, tried to prevent their passage. The uniformed men, armed with Barret machine guns, assault rifles, among other devices, decided to remove the checkpoint directly confronting the population.

Given the situation, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) stressed the importance of considering the situation of internally displaced persons and taking urgent and differentiated measures for their protection.

Meanwhile, government authorities work together on the implementation of operations and permanent surveillance, as well as the sending of humanitarian aid to the population and the installation of temporary shelters.

It should be noted that as a result of the clashes between groups, some families decided to leave their homes for surrounding villages. Now, however, they are already returning to their homes due to the tranquility provided by the presence of authorities.

As part of the actions being carried out, the Government of Chiapas has sent a total of 30.8 tons of supplies for the people of that municipality, consisting of 5 thousand 419 kilograms (kg) of beans, 2 thousand 849 kg of rice, 2 thousand 572 kg of corn flour, 2 thousand 91 bags of lentils, 2,004 bags of powdered milk, 2,164 cans of sardines, 10,002 bags of pasta soup and 3,031 bags of oatmeal.

Also, 2 thousand 528 fruit bars, one thousand 763 cans of vegetable salad, 12 thousand liters of purified water, one thousand pairs of sandals, 8 thousand pieces of disposable diapers, 8 thousand 100 pieces of feminine towels and 800 pairs of tennis shoes for girls and boys, among other supplies.

Originally Published in Spanish by Chiapas Paralelo, May 31, 2023, https://www.chiapasparalelo.com/noticias/chiapas/2023/05/acnur-onudh-y-oim-piden-medidas-urgentes-para-proteger-a-personas-desplazadas-en-frontera-comalapa/ and Re=Published with English interpretation by the Chiapas Support Committee