Tapachula, mexico
Tapachula is one of the main receiving cities for refugees on the southern border of Mexico. Thousands of asylum seekers from Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and the Middle East find themselves waiting in Tapachula for months while their asylum paperwork gets processed in Mexico. Once here, they live in dangerous and unhealthy conditions, without access to clean drinking water, soap, and other hygiene necessities.
HYGIENE KITS
The hygiene kits distributed by Solidarity Engineering include various items to assist the asylum seekers during their time in Tapachula, as well as to take with them on their travels north. Hundreds of hygiene kits have been assembled and distributed in hand-sewn bags filled with toothpaste, pads, condoms, wet wipes, shampoo, soap and face masks. Because refugees on the move rarely have access to clean water sources, LifeStraw water filters are a significant part of the kits, so that the refugees can drink water without contamination.
DISTRIBUTION
Hygiene kits are distributed at the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR), National Migration Institute (INM) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
PARTNERS
Solidarity Engineering partners with several organizations for product distribution in Tapachula. LifeStraw contributes hundreds of personal water filters. Valley AIDS Council donates thousands of condoms. Auntie Sewing Club provides hand-sewn durable bags.
