According to the most recent study by the Mexican Consejo Ciudadano para la Seguiridad Publica y la Justicia Penal, homicide rates are as follows:
- Ciudad Juarez, Mexico 229 per 100,000
- Kandahar, Afganistan 169 per 100,000
- San Pedro Sula, Honduras 125 per 100,000
- Tegucigalpa, Honduras 109 per 100,000
These statistics compare to New York City with a rate of 6.3 homocides per 100,000 habitants.
Working in public health, I am well aware that there are many, many ways to ¨read the numbers.¨ Here, any Honduran will tell you (and they are correct) that the majority of these homocides are gang related... just another ¨wonderful importation¨ of US culture. Further research helped me understand that until recently (the last 20 years), gang activity in Central America was fairly limited to knives and marihuana; however, as Central Americans returned from working in the states, they brought back with them a more intense and violent gang culture. Unfortunately, Honduras` poor infrastructure prevents it from being able to tackle the problem. ¨San Pedro Sula`s regional director of criminal investigations, Pastor Ortiz, complains, `If American police with all their resources can`t control the gangs in their cities, what can we do? We have nothing.`¨ While many surely use this information to argue for stronger border patrols preventing immigration, it saddens me that those who left seeking out a better life brought back the worst of the US and ultimately worsened the well being of their families and communities.
So what is a traveler to do with this cheery piece of information?
Quite possibly, the most important thing to me, is to keep traveling.
Statistics like those above are important to be aware of, but say very little if anything about the average citizen and the types of relationships you can create. Don`t let a statistic speak to an individual or the type of experience you will allow yourself to have. Given the recent massacre in Arizona, it would be easy for Non US citizens to view a deterioration of ethics and security; however, most US citizens are appalled and shocked, as are Hondurans, Mexicans, and Afganis.
This being said, just be careful. There are all sorts of common sense things you can do to keep yourself safe while continuing to see the world and explore new cultures. Simple things like taking private taxis in large cities, avoiding traveling at night if at all possible, not lingering in large markets - especially while toting your backpack or luggage, and springing the extra $5 dollars a night to stay some place with guarded entry (Quite common even at hostels) are basic but important. Keeping money dispersed but well hidden also helps prevent ¨pocket bulges¨ that scream: ¨I have extra, and I want to share!¨
I am happy and lucky to say that I have spent many a night in San Pedro Sula, passing through on my own and with others without problem and have met some amazing, kind people in the process. The numbers are important, but never defining!
A great, interesting website on gangs: http://royalespot.blogspot.com/2008/08/san-pedro-sulas-gangs-do-excellent-job.html
Original article on international homocide stats: http://www.latribuna.hn/web2.0/?p=230208
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