In pictures: Migrant caravan rests in Mexico City

News imageEPA A young migrant plays at the sports stadium where he has sought shelter in Mexico CityEPA

Thousands of Central Americans who form part of a migrant caravan moving north to the United States are resting in a stadium-turned-shelter in the Mexican capital, Mexico City.

News imageEPA A migrant hold blankets as he looks around the stadium in Mexico City where he has sought shelterEPA

The authorities in Mexico City have turned the sports stadium into a temporary shelter for the migrants. Those arriving are provided with mattresses, blankets, food and water.

News imageAFP A girl smiles as she carries a mattrass in a stadium-turned-shelter in Mexico CityAFP
News imageAFP Migrant children carry bananas and other food items in the sports stadium in Mexico City where they are shelteringAFP
News imageGetty Images A migrant family rests on blankets in a Mexico City stadiumGetty Images

Most of the migrants are from Honduras, in Central America. They say they left their home country because they live in fear of Honduras's violent gangs or to seek better employment opportunities.

The caravan left San Pedro Sula, in eastern Honduras, on 13 October. Many of the migrants are exhausted after having travelled 1,600km (1,000 miles) in less than a month.

While the migrants have at times been able to catch lifts in lorries and cars, most of their journey has been on foot. Not surprisingly, many are suffering from sores and blisters after their long trek.

News imageReuters A migrant's bandaged feetReuters

Despite setting off on such a long walk, many of the migrants, especially the children, do not have proper shoes.

News imageAFP A migrant child in her flip-flops.AFP

While the Jesús Martínez "Palillo" sports stadium has become increasingly crowded since the first migrants started arriving on Sunday, many of them say they are grateful for being able to rest here.

There are many families with young children making their way north and they seemed particularly relieved at being able to take a break from the walking.

News imageAFP A photographer shows a young migrant girl how to use her cameraAFP
News imageEPA Children rest in the sports stadium-turned-shelter in Mexico CityEPA

Officials estimate 4,500 migrants have now gathered at the stadium, most of them formed part of the first caravan of migrants who set off from San Pedro Sula on 13 October.

Two more groups of migrants are currently moving north towards Mexico City and it is expected that all three will join up in the capital.

Both of the later caravans are currently in southern Mexico where they are having to bathe in rivers and contend with the local wildlife.

News imageReuters A four-year-old migrant bathes in a river in Oaxaca.Reuters
News imageReuters A migrant holds up a snake at the banks of a river in Oaxaca.Reuters

US President Trump has put pressure on the Mexican authorities to stop the migrant caravan, which he has called "an invasion".

He has also said that he will use the military to completely close the US-Mexico border if necessary, to stop the migrants crossing into the US.

Many of those gathered at the stadium say that they are determined to continue on to the US but others say they are considering staying in Mexico and asking for asylum there.

News imageReuters A migrant wears a woolly hat in the colours of the US flagReuters

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