Over60% of the populationlive below the poverty line. There are an estimated 115,000 gang members. February 18 2022 Receive free Honduras updates We'll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Honduras news every morning. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Here, you will find safety knowledge and advice for travelling Honduras. Marvin Damin Castro Molina, who, as part of the Coordination of the Southern Social Environmental Movement for Life, fought mining, agro-industry, and hydroelectric projects, was abducted and found dead in Choluteca in July 2020. In 2014, the United Nations reported that 95 percent of cases of sexual violence and femicide in Honduras were never even investigated. Schools were closed from March onward due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. Sexual violence and oppression are frequent tragedies here. Some areas are also safer than others. Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. Well be answering super important questions including How safe is Honduras right now? and Is it safe to live in Honduras? We also give loads of tips for solo travelers and families. So when it comes to safetyin Honduras, we think youllgenerallybe fine, especially in the Bay Islands. Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. The Bay Islands are the only palace in Honduras that can (kind of) be considered somewhat safe. As of August, prisons had reported 1,700 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 38 deaths. Transgender woman activist killed in Honduras Two private security officers were charged. Were not going to say its thesafest place to travel,nor is it going to be the easiestplace to travel as a solo female. Youll most likely get watered-down versions of Honduran food and Western stuff. Not really. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Suddenly you find yourself surrounded by backpackers, dive shops, hostels, burger shacks, smoothie stands, and pirate bars. The law also sanctions abortion providers. It may have improved it actually. Weve made it pretty clear that Honduras isnt the safest country. But it was not a tremor, nor a tsunami. Here's a list of 14: 1. Couple that with 470 miles of (mainly) Caribbean coastline, a load of beaches and tropical islands, as well asMayan ruinsand you got yourself adream destination. To Desafio, the Barrio 18 gang in Honduras was everything. The country has the second-highest rate of femicidedefined as the killing of a woman by a man because of her genderin Latin America, the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean reports. Honduras major drug trafficking groups like the Cachiros and the Valles have largely been dismantled with the arrest and extradition of top leaders, but vestiges of these clans continue to operate. When the time came, the police departed in caravans to gang-infested neighbourhoods throughout the capital city, as part of an effort to combat an apparent rise in extortion. Wed say only experienced, intrepid travelers should tackle this one alone. A Honduran woman and her children manage to cross the remnants of a bridge destroyed by Hurricane Iota. Juan Aguilar, 41, and his wife, Margaret Wilson, 39, both of San Leandro, face charges of kidnapping to commit a sex crime, human trafficking of a minor, forcible rape, and forcible oral copulation. TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The Honduran government on Saturday extended a state of emergency declaration for 45 days, expanding it to additional areas of the country in an effort to fight criminal. For example, theBay Islandsaresaferthan the mainland. The Supreme Court had upheld Romeros 10-year sentencein January 2020. Heres what you need to know about the growing crisis in Honduras. Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. Roatan is the largest of the Honduras Bay Islands. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. Honduras is exposed to other climate shocks as well. The government has set up roadblocks, deployed security forces, and used violence to prevent people from leaving the country. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. Many Hondurans dont have access toclean waterandmedical care. InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean. Honduras declared a state of exception as extortion cases rise, suspending constitutional rights in cities and deploying thousands of troops. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most-watched television news channel for 18 consecutive years. Journalists, environmental activists, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). Weve covered the main safety concerns already, but there are a few more things to know. Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault, do sometimes occur. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Classes were broadcast on television, radio, and online, in some cases with assignments sent via Whatsapp. Theres a huge problem with single-use plastics in the Earths water and you dont have any assurance whatsoever that your bottles will be properly disposed of, even if youre careful to sort them in the proper bin. As expected, the video went viral and the local newspapers made sure they put this trusted news source on their front page. There is an expat community inTrujillo. This coastal city is more welcoming togringos than other places and features beaches fringed bycoral reefsand theres a lot of new development happening here. Estimates of the number of active gang members range from 5,000 to 40,000. Honduras isnt different from lots of other great backpacking countries in that youre never absolutely safe from food-borne illness. One example:tajadas(fried plantains, topped with cabbage and served with ground beef). Investigations were underway at time of writing. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. Often, people with disabilities are threatened and subjected to extortion by criminal gangs. https://t.co/xQGbbyZXXv. Between 2005 and 2019, 34 percent of women who were 20-24 years old had married when they were 15-19, the UN Population Fund reported in 2020. Impunity for human rights abuses, violent crime, and corruption remains the norm, even as the prison population has mushroomed. We then verify, write and edit, providing the tools to generate real impact. Since June, 2021 the United States has shared 6,088,590 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Honduras - free of cost. Gang violence is a big issue in Honduras. More information. Honduras deploys soldiers on anti-crime patrols - 1 hr 50 mins ago TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - The Honduran government has deployed soldiers to perform anti-crime patrols in some of the Central American country's most violent cities, following the massacre of 18 people in a shoe factory this week. I consent to my personal information being processed in accordance with The Broke Backpackers. Home to the second biggest barrier reef in the world, beaches, and sparkling turquoise sea, as well as a whole host of Mayan ruins, amazing coffee, and the second largest rainforest in the Americas, Honduras is extremely biodiverse: there are 770 bird species alone. Nope. Close, Is Honduras Safe for Travel? Some areas have increased risk. From 2011 to 2017, the number of killings in Honduras actually dropped, from 87 per 100,000 to 44. And watch out for bad road conditions after heavy rain. Thats why weve listed and answered the most frequently asked questions on safety in Honduras. Use these tips to reduce the risk, but we also recommend that you pack some medication fit for a bad stomach. Honduras Honduras declares war against gangs - and for control of popular narrative Xiomara Castro's crackdown on gangs is also an attempt to counter allegations the government hasn't done. Gangs, particularly the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18), are considered to be largely responsible for Honduras murder rate, and are infamous for extortion and drug peddling. (KCAU) The Stanton County Sheriff's Office said that they've cited two men who allegedly killed an American Bald Eagle. Prolonged droughts have undermined food production, while in October 2021 a wildfire in the Guanaja region affected thousands. Lots of travelers stick to bottled water,but please dont. Bukeles example resonates in societies with a fragile institutional framework and with a tendency towards populism and authoritarianism, said Ismael Moreno, a human rights defender. Meanwhile, as Guatemalas electoral season heats up ahead of next years presidential election, some candidates have signaled that if elected, they would also implement hardline policies. Efforts to reform public-security institutions have stalled. I believe that [Bukeles] leadership is increasing, because the tendency of the Bukele government is to become Central American, and to exercise leadership in all of Central America, said Moreno. Simple as that. A study by the National Violence Observatory of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) placed the country as the most violent territory in Central America, with a homicide rate of 38.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Honduras has the misfortune of being situated between South American cocaine production and U.S. drug consumption. Late Thursday, Nov. 24, Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. There is only anecdotal evidence of the scale of the problem because so few extortion victims report the crime, making a statistical analysis impossible. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. Heres how to not get ill whilst trying local delights. There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different. But the removal of military officers from an anti-gang taskforce resulted in a messy divorce that temporarily reduced the units already limited capacity opening a window for criminals and before the community policing model could have any effect, the political pressure to take decisive action against extortion boiled over. Some are deprived of full legal capacity and are institutionalized in different settings, including psychiatric hospitals. We provide specialized support for survivors of gender-based violence; create safe spaces for women, youth and the LGBTQ+ community; and also offer psychosocial counseling and social work support. Honduras, in general, is open and welcoming to children. Share this via LinkedIn This has a pretty good expat community too. According to the U.N., Honduras has the highest femicide rate in the world. Read more about the top 10 crises the world cant ignore in 2022, learn how the IRC selected these countries, and download the full 2022 Emergency Watchlist report for data citations and profiles of all 20 crisis countries on the IRC's list. Especiallythrough a tour company. Violence has long ruled here. La Ceibaon the northern coast, with mountains, jungles, and beaches, is a chilled and adventurous area to explore. October 4, 2021 The U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras is pleased to announce a donation from the government of the United States of 250,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to the people of Honduras. The likelihood of you getting caught up in all that relies very much on you being somehow related to one of the gangs. Sign up for our newsletter and get the best travel tips delivered right to your inbox. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. In January 2020, the OHCHR released a report saying that the armed forces and military police had used excessiveeven lethalforce in response to the protests that followed the 2017 election. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency Meant to Fight Crime, FILE PHOTO: A member of Honduras' DIPAMPCO (Police Anti Maras and Gangs Against Organised Crime Directorate) stands guard as other DIPAMPCO members frisk people while doing rounds in a low-income neighbourhood, after President Xiomara Castro declared a national security emergency implementing a new plan to combat a rising number of cases of extortion by violent criminal groups operating across the country, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras November 26, 2022. Womenand girls who terminate pregnancies face prison sentences of up to six years. Allegations that senior politicians had been benefiting financially from the drug trade contributed to the unrest. Its not 100% safe in Honduras. The poverty resulting from all this is what youll have to watch out for. And theyre generally safe. Theres no reason to get mixed up with a gang in Honduras. Xiomara Castros crackdown on gangs is also an attempt to counter allegations the government hasnt done enough to combat crime. Thats why we listed the no-go areas in Honduras below. You should ask locals on the best routes to take to any given place. Youll need to be a confident traveler. Dont open the door for anyone, unless youre expecting a visit. Naturally, youre going to be wondering, Is Honduras safe? That is why we have created this insiders guide looking at the safety of travelers in Honduras. The crime rates are improving and the government is putting a lot of effort into attracting more tourists. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. There's no avoiding violence in Honduras, even at home. However, if you decide to travel independently, youll face quite a few challenges. Sometimes the drivers are assaulted. In July 2020, gunmen in police uniforms abducted five indigenous Garifuna men in Triunfo de la Cruz, where communities are claiming ancestral land from drug traffickers and developers. President Xiomara Castro, center, with the minister of defense, Jose Manuel Zelaya, and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Jos Jorge Fortn, at a military ceremony in Tegucigalpa on 9 December. Take theBay Islands,for example. Expat retirees, yachties, families with kids, and cruise ship tourists make up a large majority of the demographic found on Roatan at any given time. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. Excessive use of force by police and deployment of the military in public security operations continued in 2020. Is Honduras safe for solo female travelers? An illegal immigrant from Honduras was sentenced to 60 years in prison Friday for the killing of a Florida man in Jacksonville in 2021, prosecutors said. TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduran authorities reported on Monday the discovery of more than 1.6 million coca leaf bushes in the most important. Seth Sidney Berry / SOPA Images/Sipa USA (Sipa via AP Images), Share this via Facebook Close to 1 million migrants fled Honduras for the U.S. border over the eight-year tenure of former President Juan Orlando Hernndez, now facing drug trafficking charges after being arrested. ; Children and Adolescents - Honduras has the highest youth homicide rate in the world. Youre connected. Its dangerous there.. Jesse Watters: Buying mace in Manhattan is almost as hard as getting a gun. I agree with Bukele and I want the same here. We need to address these immediate needs too.. By MARLON GONZLEZ November 25, 2022. So keep that in mind and have a read of our safety tips for solo female travelers thinking of taking a trip to Honduras. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. In March 2020, the government declared a state of emergency in response to the pandemic, imposing a lockdown and restricting movement and freedom of expression. He estimated the companies and drivers have paid an average of about $10 million per month to the gangs in order to operate. With those come violenceandpoverty. An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! Domestic and sexual violence are also widespread, with women and children bearing the brunt. In fact, according toInSight Crime there has definitely been around a 26% drop in crime since 2016. TEGUCIGALPA, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The Honduran government on Saturday extended a state of emergency declaration for 45 days, expanding it to additional areas of the country in an effort to fight. As of August 2020, more than 21,000 people were detained in prisons with capacity for just under 11,000. A woman is killed every 23 hours on average, the National Autonomous University of Honduras Violence Observatory reports. Is your phone eSIM ready? Crisis in Honduras: Ongoing violence and climate shocks Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committee's Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can seriously get you in trouble. Gangs control areas within the same communities,. But if the peace in the condemning nations were to rupture the way it has in El Salvador and Honduras, we can bet they . The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. The measure must still be approved by Congress. Honduras isnt exactly what wed callsafe. Wed,03/01/23-8:26AM, 3 Reads. It might sound like paradiseBut it isnt. That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we dont believe are up to scratch. Itcan be safe as a solo female traveler in Honduras. Im nervous, repeated a young police officer driving a pickup truck crowded with heavily armed special forces officers. Since 2012, the Honduran police have implemented a program sponsored by the US Department of State called Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) which aims to discourage youth crime and gang recruitment.