Honduras is witnessing a surge in gang violence that has forced thousands of residents to flee their homes, sparking a worsening humanitarian crisis. Criminal organizations, primarily Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18, have taken control of entire communities, enforcing brutal laws and causing widespread terror. Families are leaving behind everything, seeking safety in other regions or attempting to migrate to neighboring countries like Guatemala and the U.S.
The government’s efforts to curb the violence have been largely ineffective, with law enforcement outnumbered and under-resourced. The growing violence also threatens to destabilize the region, with international agencies now calling for urgent humanitarian assistance.
The crisis is exacerbating the broader issue of Central American migration, as people flee not just poverty, but the immediate threat of violence and death at the hands of these criminal groups.
