Shelters in Mexicali struggle to keep migrants safe during pandemic

Migrant shelters claim they have yet to receive any help from the government

MEXICALI, B.C. (KYMA, KECY)-The Alfa y Omega, Cobina, and El Camino Shelters in Mexicali have cases of COVID-19, without any help from the government to secure their health.

For more than 60 days, the Cobina Shelter has 140 people in isolation because the person in charge of the place, Altagracia Tamayo, is recovering from the virus.

She says that despite the fact that the refugees tested negative for the virus at the Cobina shelter, the ALFA and Omega shelter did not suffer the same fate since 15 people tested positive. Including the person in charge of the shelter, Tomas Diosdado.

Tamayo says there are four cases in refugees at the Albergue el Camino.

Despite this situation, neither the municipal, state or federal government has approached the shelters to provide support in food or health.

Tamayo criticizes federal delegate, Alejandro Ruiz Uribe, for being an insensitive person since a few days ago he declared that there would be no support this year for migrant shelters in Baja California.

Tamayo assured the civil association Goodness Border of the United States has been the only one who has given them support. She denies that the federal government has supported the payment of electric energy, as the Federal sub-delegate assured a few days ago since he said that the energy bills have come month by month, reaching a debt of over $4,000.

The head of the Cobina shelter that cares for children and women has reached out to the community to support them with food.