Central American Refugee Planning

In the 1980s, "Central America" became synonymous with civil war, economic collapse, human rights abuse, and refugee movement. Because of the complexities of Central American politics, refugees from the region have elicited a highly mixed response, ranging from humanitarian to indifferent to hostile. Individuals and agencies trying to serve these refugees or resettle them are faced with constraints that are more political than logistical. Since the 1970s, 2-3 million refugees have been displaced from their homes in Central America. Central American refugees have presented an unprecedented challenge to planners, relief workers, economists, politicians, administrators, community leaders, and others. Analysis of the refugee planning enacted so far in the region illustrates both appalling and exemplary approaches that can shed light on refugee planning elsewhere