Construction of a Refugee Site from Sargassum Blocks in Cancun

The production of sargassum blocks, known as sargablocks, began last March to start the construction of a migrant and refugee site in Cancun, which will be called Casa Sureste.

Construction of a Refugee Site from Sargassum Blocks in Cancun
Sargassum blocks, known as sargablocks. Photo: Facebook Blue Green Mexico

Since last March, the production of sargassum blocks, known as sargablocks, began to start the construction of a migrant and refugee site in Cancun, which will be called Casa Sureste, which is now ready, and in the next few days, the construction of the perimeter wall will begin, informed Marilyn Torres Leal, president of the International Council Sumando Venezuela (Cisvac).

"To date in Casa Sureste we have advanced with the first phase of construction, which is the perimeter fence made with sargablock, the fabrication is ready. This first phase will be destined for families and single mothers", explained Torres Leal in the framework of the Refugee's Day, which is commemorated this June 20 and for which they have organized the event Todos Somos Uno, where different Latin American artists will perform starting at 7:00 p.m. in Alfredo V. Bonfil.

The interviewee explained that the projection of Casa Sureste was made for a little more than a year, that is to say, that the total opening of the first phase could take place until 2025, but they are confident that more hands can join and move forward more quickly.

He acknowledged that more and more migrant caravans are arriving in the country, so without a doubt, the opening of Casa Sureste is of vital importance to provide support to other shelters.

"We plan for the first phase to be destined for families and single mothers. But given the reality that we are seeing today with the caravans that are arriving in the country, we are going to focus the support depending on the need at that moment," he said.

The reality, he added, is that the attention to migrants is changing according to the global and national context, as well as the needs of the migrants themselves, which are also different, given that not only young people migrate, but also entire families, including the elderly and children.

"Many to settle in Mexico and others bound for the United States. Our team is trained to attend free of charge to the concerns of the people who come to us for guidance," he said.

Casa Sureste will be built in region 247 of Cancun, in a 300-square meter lot. The fence will surround a perimeter of 120 meters with a wall of 2.20 meters high and will be made of sargablock, calculating that for every 3 thousand blocks produced, 3 thousand tons of wet sargassum are used, that is, a total of 70 tons of the macroalgae.