U.S.-Guatemala talk humanitarian aid and migration
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pledged over $300 million in aid to Central America on Monday, after a virtual meeting with Guatemalan President Alejndro Giamattei.
"The United States plans to increase relief to the region, strengthen our cooperation to manage migration in an effective, secure and humane manner."
Harris leads the U.S.’s efforts to stop the growing number of migrants from crossing into the U.S from the Mexico border and Central America’s Northern Triangle countries, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
The aid targets drought relief, food shortages and a partnership aimed at health and education.
It also pledges millions of dollars towards the protection of refugees and asylum seekers.
"And we want to work with you to address the acute causes, as well as the root causes, in a way that will bring hope to the people of Guatemala that there will be an opportunity for them, if they stay at home."
Guatemala’s economy has been devastated by back-to-back hurricanes and the global health crisis, with nearly 8 million people facing hunger this year according to the World Food Programme.
The two countries agreed to set up a joint border protection task force, where the U.S. plans to train Guatemalan forces.
Guatemala in return will send a team to the U.S. to help reunify unaccompanied minors with their parents at the Mexico border.
Harris has yet to speak with the leaders of Honduras and El Salvador.
