In 1981. the Reagan administration responded aggressively to regional concerns with respect to the leftist regime. The United States funded and organized the new paramilitary force which became known as the Contras. The Contra war. as it became known. lasted until 1988 and resulted in more than 25.000 deaths in that country and 700.000 refugees and displaced people. Although Honduras faced no serious civil conflict of its own. it served as a staging ground for efforts of the United States to fight the insurgencies in Guatemala and El Salvador and to overthrow Nicaraguas Sandinista government. Hondurass geographically central location made it a convenient base of operations for the Contras and a center of training and supply for the Salvadoran and Guatemalan militaries.
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refugees