The United States promised $310 humanitarian Aid to Central America.

The US vice President Kamala Harris, the leader in the response of the crisis of the southern border, promised the Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei that the US will be giving humanitarian aid during a virtual meeting.

“In light of the dire situation and acute suffering faced by millions of people in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, Vice President Harris announced an additional $310 million in US government support for humanitarian relief and to address food insecurity,” a statement from her office said after the meeting.

“The United States plans to increase relief to the region, strengthen our cooperation to manage migration in an effective, secure and humane manner,” Harris promised Giammattei.

According to the White House press office, the aid will include $125m to help “mitigate the impact of recurrent drought, food shortages, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic”.

 

The US Department of State will also provide $104m in aid for the “immediate safety and protection needs of refugees, asylum seekers” as well as internally displaced people in the region.

Biden has asked Congress for $861m to address the causes that drive irregular immigration from Central America, within the framework of his $4bn plan for the region.