After "The Beast," the freight train that crosses Mexico from south to north derailed on August 26 and caused the death of 12 migrants that were trying to reach the United States, Mexican researchers have been working on an "interactive map" that will help undocumented Central Americans in their dangerous journey to the U.S.
According to Sin Embargo, starting in October, Central Americans journeying on board "The Beast" will be able to use this free tool that will give them the necessary information to survive during the long train ride.
The Interactive Map on Migration Mobility in Mexico is a project by the Iberoamerican University of Mexico with the purpose of helping migrants stay informed of the dangers that await them when crossing Mexican territory. The tool aims to help them take decisions on whether or not to cross the country and in what conditions.
In an interview given to Sin Embargo, Javier Urbano Reyes, the coordinator of the Migration Issues Program (Prami) of the Iberoamerican University, explained that the map is "a tool that leaves behind solemn information and makes it digestible and operative so that thousands of migrants can easily understand the information, as well as activists or anyone studying or interested in the subject of migration."
Reyes explained that the map can be downloaded through Twitter and Facebook, and has the main function of providing precise data on the location of shelters, as well as zones with risk of human trafficking, robbery, kidnapping and extortion that migrants might face on their way through The Beast's route.
Likewise, he assured that the application contains directions and contact information for government institutions and civil organizations where they can get help; it also compiles all the alerts and precautions they should heed before undertaking their journey.
The map, still in its testing phase and whose first version will be available in October, will be a fundamental tool for undocumented migrants, and will include panoramic pictures of the regions, so they can know which route to take; it also includes the location of water containers in regions like Los Angeles or the Arizona Desert.
For the moment, the application will be available for any type of computer. However, it's expected that in the future, the tool can be used from any mobile device or smartphone.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
