UN Refugee Agency Concerned Over Security Central American Caravan - Spokesman

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is worried about a kidnapping and other security threats in the area where a caravan of migrants from Central America is headed, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd October, 2018) The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is worried about a kidnapping and other security threats in the area where a caravan of migrants from Central America is headed, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

A caravan of thousands of migrants from Central America has crossed into Mexico and is headed towards the southern border of the United States where they hope to gain asylum.

"The UN Refugee agency is concerned about the known kidnapping and security risks where the caravan may travel," Haq told reporters. "Stabilizing the situation has become urgent."

The spokesman said the United Nations believes migrants should be given a chance to request asylum in Mexico. He stressed the proper conditions should be provided for all asylum seekers before the decision on their status is made.

The United Nations has already placed its staff on the ground and is planning to send more workers to attend migrant needs, including help with registration and distribution of humanitarian aid.

On Monday, Haq disclosed the latest UN estimate that the caravan has swelled to 7,200, while the Mexican newspaper El Universal published an estimate of 14,000 migrants.

US President Donald Trump said he would close the Southern border if Mexico is not able to stop the migrant flow. The US president also threatened to cut off foreign aid to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador because the governments of the countries are failing to crack down on illegal immigration.