Las Brisas de Cóbano, Puntarenas – 28 November 2025

A serious episode of intimidation occurred in the community of Las Brisas, a settlement of vulnerable families located on the Nicoya Peninsula and often at the center of reports concerning critical housing conditions and structural risk.

According to the Delegation of the Confederation of Humanitarian Nations (CNU) in Costa Rica, a volunteer engaged in social support activities and safety monitoring was reportedly threatened at gunpoint by an unidentified individual. The assailant allegedly pointed a firearm at the volunteer’s head, ordering him to immediately cease all activities on site.

The Head of the CNU Mission in the country reported that other members of the local community association received intimidating messages in the same hours, likely connected to rising tension related to the presence of organizations supporting the population in the area.

The episode, described as “of extreme gravity” by humanitarian operators, led to the immediate activation of CNU protocols, including security and investigative procedures, as well as the internal protocol for official communication with the competent authorities. The CNU has already initiated informational contacts with national institutions and international bodies to ensure protection and continuity of humanitarian operations.

A fragile community under pressure

Las Brisas is a settlement composed largely of migrant families who have lived for years in conditions of severe legal and health insecurity. Many homes, built in emergency circumstances, lack adequate infrastructure, and access to essential services is limited.

Despite showing considerable capacity for self-organization over the years, the community faces a constant risk of eviction, limited institutional presence, and a level of social vulnerability that requires coordinated external intervention.

The response of the Confederation

The Secretary General of the CNU, Harry Tallarita, expressed “deep concern for an act that affects not only our volunteers but the entire humanitarian ecosystem working for the protection of exposed and fragile communities.”
The Confederation confirmed that its support activities will not be interrupted, reiterating that “the protection of people and of human rights defenders is a non-negotiable priority.”

Today, the Secretary General issued an Extraordinary Decree of Provisional Incorporation for the association Provivivienda en Acción por un Techo Digno, historically active in the Las Brisas community, recognizing it as a humanitarian and institutional partner in the work of community protection and social development, in order to safeguard its members under UN Resolution 53/144 (1999) on Human Rights Defenders.

“In the coming days, we will engage in dialogue with the highest authorities of Costa Rica both in Italy and in the country, and we will activate communication channels with the local Italian Embassy and with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” stated Tallarita.

Several local observers, interviewed by the press, are now calling for greater attention from territorial and national authorities to ensure that acts of violence against humanitarian workers are neither minimized nor allowed to become a deterrent to the presence of international organizations.

The community hopes that this event will accelerate the establishment of dialogue tables and structural solutions, ensuring safety and dignity for a population that has lived for years on the margins of essential services.

Investigations are ongoing. The humanitarian workers involved, though shaken, have confirmed their intention to continue their work.