Thirty years after the end of devastating civil conflicts, the Northern Triangle countries of Central America are again at a crossroads. Vulnerable communities in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras—already suffering the effects of cyclical droughts and floods—are now experiencing unprecedented levels of violence from organized criminal groups. As a result, many families have been forcibly displaced, both within and outside of their countries of origin.

Clearly, such large-scale violence and displacement merit a far-reaching humanitarian response. Yet governments and aid providers are reluctant to acknowledge and frame responses for the region that both address humanitarian concerns and provide maximum protection for all.

On June 8, we discussed the humanitarian consequences of violence in Central America, on the launch of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Humanitarian Practice Network’s Humanitarian Exchange magazine.