Boulder nurse sets out for Tijuana to help Central American migrants
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A longtime
"I have done disaster relief in
Lyne, who retired as the director of the nursing program at
She said she also helped establish a clinic during civil war in
"My focus is usually on populations or communities," she said. "One of the things I'll be able to help with is looking at the systems in place and see how we can use rotating volunteers to come down until the initial crisis is over."
A mix of emotions
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Although migrants will often travel in groups for safety, a large caravan, made up primarily of several thousand people from
Members of the caravan arrived in
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"A lot of the people seem very happy and cheerful just to be there and see people trying to help them," she said. "It's very sad just to see the kinds of conditions they are living in and the kinds of things they have to go through on a daily basis."
She said that many of the migrants are reluctant to share their stories in great detail, but most of them have fled violence in their home countries.
"They say they were beat up on the street because they didn't want to join a gang," she said. "Their mom's life was threatened or their kids' lives were threatened. It's pretty much the gang violence."
'No choice other than survival'
"My impression is the Mexican government is working with the
He said that he has heard through various channels that as many as 1,000 people have given up and gone home. Some have also reportedly looked for work in
Concern exists, he said, that out of desperation some people will become drug mules for cartels operating in the region as a way to cross the border.
"People who have nothing and they have no choice other than survival, other than that, it's their last option," he said. "A lot of people will take it. Because it's an option."
'That person will know they are not being forgotten'
Lyne said she expects to see respiratory disease -- coughs, sore throats, fevers -- and diarrhea from drinking unhygienic water when she arrives at the shelter, but also a lack of essential medicine.
"I'm concerned about how chronic diseases are being managed," she said. "For example, people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes -- where are they getting their insulin and pills. The folks with high blood pressure -- where are they getting their medication? They aren't."
She added that its difficult to know what she will find once she arrives.
"Nurses like to control things," she said. "We like to have everything organized in a neat box, but I don't know what I'm going to find. Part of what I'm anticipating is meeting with the folks there and seeing how I can be used and then going to work."
Lyne said she will be gone about a week and depending on whether she has a skill set that is needed, she might return. At the very least, she said she will be able to offer consolation and help to new mothers, children and the elderly people who are suffering.
"That person will know they are not being forgotten," she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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