No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCosta Rica, UN announce insurance benefits for more migrants

Costa Rica, UN announce insurance benefits for more migrants

Costa Rica and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced Thursday an agreement that will provide health insurance to 10,000 refugees by the end of the year.

The UNHCR will finance expanding “the health insurance already enjoyed by 6,000 of the most vulnerable” to cover 4,000 more refugees during 2021.

“We know that this will make a big difference in the quality of life of families who have fled their countries in search of refuge to safeguard their lives and those of their family, especially at a time when the pandemic has shown the great gaps of inequality around the world,” President Carlos Alvarado said in a statement.

The announcement came as part of a visit to Costa Rica by Filippo Grandi, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees.

“Despite the enormous limitations, the Government of Costa Rica has maintained its long tradition of hosting and the implementation of policies and initiatives for the protection and integration of refugees,” the Presidency said.

Costa Rica houses a population of about 400,000 Nicaraguans, but that number has grown after the persecution unleashed by 2018 protests against Daniel Ortega, which led tens of thousands to seek asylum.

Earlier this year, Nicaraguans who fled the government of Daniel Ortega to seek asylum in Costa Rica formally requested support from the UNHCR.

“UNHCR received $4.5 million to insure 5,000 or 6,000 asylum seekers in Costa Rica, but we do not have insurance,” Nicaraguan nurse Ana Hernández said at the time.

“Some people have been insured, but we don’t know what criteria UNHCR uses to insure some and not others.”

Costa Rica has long sought international support to assist with the migrant crisis.

“We need support from other countries to realize that shared responsibility,” the Costa Rican president said in December 2019.

Those comments came after the UNHCR asked Costa Rica to expedite refugee requests from Nicaraguans, as well as to improve “measures to facilitate access to healthcare, work and education” for refugees.

Last year, Costa Rica created a special asylum category for Nicaraguans, among others, explaining it “has the obligation to not return these persons” to their country of origin based on risks to their “life, freedom and security.”

Trending Now

Costa Rica Lawmakers Push Bill for Guaranteed Public Beach Access

A push to keep Costa Rica's beaches open to everyone took a step forward last week when a legislative committee approved a bill requiring...

JetBlue Flash Sale: Fort Lauderdale to Liberia Flights Ends Today

Those looking for a deal on airfare and eyeing a trip between Florida and Costa Rica now have a chance to get one with...

Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Makes Forbes’ Best Places to Visit in 2026

Forbes has spotlighted Guanacaste as one of the top six spots for travelers in 2026. The list also includes Nikko in Japan, Kona in...

Costa Rica Monitors Caribbean Tropical Wave with 70% Storm Chance

Those who live along the Caribbean coast know all too well how quickly weather can turn in October. Right now, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional...

Costa Rica President Narrows Legal Abortion to Life-Saving Cases

President Rodrigo Chaves has repealed Costa Rica's therapeutic abortion protocol, a move that fulfills a long-standing promise and tightens rules around the procedure. The...

Costa Rica Targets June 2026 for New High-Security Prison

Costa Rica faces a sharp increase in homicides tied to drug trafficking, putting heavy strain on its prisons. In response, the government has moved...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica