Remittances to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras —known collectively as the Northern Triangle— soared to a record US$18.95 billion in the first half of 2024, marking a 4.2% increase over the previous year.
Remittances are money sent by migrants to their home countries, and they are a lifeline for millions of families in the Northern Triangle and the rest of Latin America. The largest volume of remittances flowing to the region come from migrant workers in the US.
Guatemala received the largest share of remittances, at US$10.27 billion, followed by Honduras (US$4.63 billion), and El Salvador (US$4.05 billion).
Analysts and policy makers see remittances as an opportunity to boost local economies across the region, hoping they will help curb migration to the US.
The US$765.4 million increase in remittances underscores the resilience of these financial flows, even in the face of global economic challenges, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
While remittances provide an economic lifeline, the region’s growing reliance on them also poses risks. The economic well-being of families in the Northern Triangle is closely tied to US economic conditions and immigration policies.
As the region grapples with ongoing economic instability, violence and political uncertainty, the reliance on remittances raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of economies built around these external financial flows.
The US government is advocating for economic reforms in the Northern Triangle to reduce dependence on remittances. Experts agree that internal reforms aimed at fostering domestic economic growth are essential. By focusing on development and creating new opportunities within the region, policymakers can help alleviate poverty and reduce the pressure to migrate.
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Publish date : 2024-08-26 11:56:00
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