Last night we told you about Ashley, a Belizean migrant child and standard five student who traveled unaccompanied, at least for some time, to the United States via Mexico in hopes of being reunited with her father in Texas.
It's a heart-wrenching story of struggle and risk, one that the little girl and her parents feel they were forced to take in order to secure the hope of a better life. Up to last night she was with a social worker in US Immigration.
But tonight we ask UNICEF Rep Alison Parker for her take on Ashley's arduous journey, she gave us some background on how many perils that journey actually entails and tells us that while Ashley's case is the one we've heard about it cannot be the only one.
Alison Parker, Representative, UNICEF
"This is not just one case, we know there may be others. This is the one that we have heard about, but we know there are many others, because poverty has increase, inequality has become even more glaring and families have gone to a lot over the last year, so as with the Vaccine coming in today and the hope to return to normalcy, one of the categories also are those who have been in the hospitality industry as this begins to open us again families will start having the income they need to be able to take care of their children and hopefully some of these unfortunate incidents can be mitigated."
"It's going to be a process, it's going to be a challenge and I think the partnership is what is going to help us to save the lives of children and families."
Reporter
"Can I ask you just to speak a little more specifically Belizean children do not normally travel in this way, it's not something common to our society as it is in places like Guatemala and Honduras. If this becomes a trend what are some of the dangers that you would note for children traveling unaccompanied?"
Alison Parker, Representative, UNICEF
"There are a lot of issues. If you follow the caravan story that's happening right now in the northern triangle, children are traveling unaccompanied, how do they take care of themselves? How do they navigate some of the that meet you on the road? They are not yet in that situation where they can make the right choices. They are not in a position where they can make the right decisions, so the vulnerability is heighten and the exposure to violence, abuse and exploitation is just out there and so unfortunately this is happening now. We hope it doesn't continue, but if this is an unfortunate trend this is something that all of us will partner together to ensure that we can protect those children, keep an eye on those caravans moving, identify who they are and help to save some of those children that are being exposed to some of the ills that has been the impact of the covid19 pandemic. In Belize it's new, but it's also heighten across the world. It's a big issue and I think this is something that global leaders are coming together, national leaders are coming together around, but the impact of Covid19 is something we all have to grapple with in the next couple of years."
Via text Ashley father's told us just a few minutes ago that she's still being processed but that she should be released into his custody soon. He's currently filling out the requisite forms in hopes that he'll get to see Ashley next week.
