Weary Central Americans still far from reaching U.S. border

Thousands of Central American migrants awoke Tuesday in a makeshift encampment in a rainsoaked town square in far-southern Mexico, some weary, foot-sore and coughing, still distant from their goal of reaching the U.S. border.

The caravan, estimated to include more than 7,000 people, had advanced about 75 kilometres since crossing the border from Guatemala, and still faced more than 1,600 km, and likely much further, to the end of the journey.

But as the sun rose, a chorus of coughs arose from the shapeless forms wrapped in blankets and bits of plastic sheeting. Burned by the relentless heat and the night's chill, eating badly and sleeping rough, many appeared to be developing respiratory symptoms.

Forty-eight-year-old Edwin Enrique Jimenez Flores of Tela, Honduras had one of those persistent coughs, but still vowed to reach the U.S. to seek work.

“I feel strong. My feet are good,” he said.

But Marlon Anibal Castellanos, a 27-year-old former bus driver from San Pedro Sula was finding the journey difficult as he prepared to rest Monday night. He was travelling with his wife as well as his 9year-old daughter and 6-year-old son.

“It’s difficult to travel with children,” he said. “Today we walked six hours” before finally paying 25 pesos — about $1.30 — from their thin savings to a passing van driver who took then the rest of the way to Huixtla.

“It’s dangerous. There are no ambulances and if the children pass out, they could die because there is no (medical) help.”

Another hazard — trucks crowded with hitch-hiking migrants — claimed one victim Monday when a man fell from the back of a truck and died.

The marchers set up a simple memorial to the man overnight, setting out a dozen small candles arranged in the shape of a cross that were kept lit through the darkness.

A smaller caravan earlier this year headed for the distant TijuanaSan Diego crossing, dissipating as it advanced.

Only a fraction — about 200 of the 1,200 in the group — reached the California border.

The same could well happen this time around as some turn back, splinter off on their own or decide to take their chances on asylum in Mexico — as 1,128 have done so far, according to the country’s Interior Department.

On Monday, President Donald Trump blamed Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador for not stopping people from leaving their countries. “We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them,” he wrote.