The president of El Salvador says he is ready to work with the US government on creating security and jobs in his country to reduce the number people making perilous journeys into the US.

:: Warning: Distressing images below

But Nayib Bukele, who was elected in February, also told Sky News that the US is approaching the problem in "the wrong way", as more and more Central American migrants try to make their way in.

Image: Mr Bukele says he is trying to make his country safe. File pic

A harrowing photograph recently emerged of El Salvador migrant Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez and his 23-month-old daughter Valeria, which shows the little girl holding on to her father as their bodies lie side-by-side in shallow water along the bank of the Rio Grande on the Mexican side.

Asked by Sky News what he intends to do personally to prevent people becoming desperate to leave, Mr Bukele said the answer is in creating a better life for people in El Salvador.


Image: Behind the photo: Migrant's mother speaks out

"We are trying to make our country safe," he said.

"Most of the people who are fleeing are fleeing for two main reasons. One is because of the security because they don't feel safe… so we want to make our country safer and we will work really hard."

The second reason, he added, was a lack of opportunity and jobs, saying he "will make our country more prosperous and create jobs".

"So if people have an opportunity for decent jobs, a decent education a decent healthcare system and security, I know that forced migration will be reduced to zero," he said.

Image: Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez and his daughter Valeria were found in the Rio Grande

The 37-year old, who has vowed to turn El Salvador's fortunes around, insisted America would not find a solution in blocking people from entering the US.

He said: "They are approaching this in the wrong way. History has shown that this will not stop migration."

He added that he was confident that making the right changes in El Salvador would reduce the number of people wanting to leave because most people, given the right opportunities, would always choose to stay in their homeland, close to their families.

"What I would say to the US government is we are ready to work on security and providing jobs for our people," he said.

Image: Military tents have been used to house migrants at the US Customs and Border Protection facility in Clint, Texas

Following worldwide outrage over the deaths, both the US Senate and House approved separate legislation to provide funding for the care for migrants streaming into America.

Mr Bukele is the country's first president from neither the right-wing Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) nor the leftist Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN).

He has promised to try to redefine El Salvador's image with the US, tackle corruption and to reach a wider audience through social media. During his campaign, he ran on an anti-corruption ticket delivered on Twitter and Facebook.

Recent polls suggest tackling crime and unemployment are top amongst Salvadoran voter priorities. But he has his work cut own- poverty, violence and crime have plagued El Salvador for decades.

Image: Mr Trump's hardline stance on immigration has come under intense scrutiny

A recent UNHCR report into refugees from El Salvador says: "The increasing exodus of Salvadorians in search of international protection is rooted in the human rights, social, political and economic impact of the increasing reach, power and violence of organised criminal groups."

In 2015, El Salvador's defence minister said the government believed between 500,000 and 600,000 of the country's 6.3 million population are linked to gangs.

The rate of femicide (killing motivated by gender) in El Salvador is the highest in the world.