El Salvador: President Nayib Bukele Warns Children on Joining Gangs, Saying It Leads to 'Prison or Death'

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele gave a warning to the country's families and its children about what will happen if teenagers join the gangs.

According to Al Jazeera, Bukele's message on social media came as El Salvador cracks down on gang membership after dozens of people were killed last weekend over gang violence.

"To parents. Show your teenage children this video, explain to them that joining a gang leaves only two options: prison or death,"

Bukele warned on his official Twitter account. President Bukele's warning was accompanied by a video that showed tough conditions in El Salvador's prison systems.

In the video, some inmates were seen sleeping on the floor in crowded cells. Some inmates were also seen complaining about food rationing and a lack of sanitation, per Al Jazeera.

El Salvador: Nayib Bukeles Admin Capture More Gang Members

El Salvador's president also announced development on the continuous arrest of gang members. According to Al Jazeera, there are more than 16,000 gang members jailed in the El Salvador prison system.

However, Nayib Bukele announced on Thursday that his administration caught 3,000 more gang members.

Bukele noted that since Sunday, food in the prison was rationed among the 16,000 prison gang members. The president added that there will be less space and the food will be rationed even more due to the additional arrest made by the authorities.

Al Jazeera noted that the MS-13 gang and Barrio 18 were the major criminal groups to which the inmates belong.

Earlier this week, President Nayib Bukele threatened to punish the more than 16,000 arrested gang members if the violence in the country continues, according to The Daily Mail.

"Stop killing now or they (the incarcerated) are going to pay for it too," Bukele said in a statement.

The president also included images showing rushing inmates that were handcuffed and wearing only white boxer shorts. Hundreds were also filmed kneeling in a row while they were watched by baclava-clad guards and police officers with riot shields, per The Daily Mail.

El Salvador Heightens Prison Sentences Among Gang Inmates

The update on the imprisoned gang members came a day after El Salvador's Congress on Wednesday increased the sentences for crimes committed by gang members, per Associated Press.

The outlet noted that the increase in sentences was a revision to the country's penal code requested by President Nayib Bukele.

Under the new rules, convicted gang leaders will be sentenced to 40 to 45 years of jail time, compared to the six to nine years previously.

Meanwhile, other gang members will be sentenced from 20 to 30 years, up from three to five years before.

"These reforms are intended to impose harsh penalties for these terrorists who believe they're above authority and play with the lives of Salvadorans," El Salvador's Justice and Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro said.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Bukele Threatens Reprisals to El Salvador Gangs Over Spike in Violence - From Al Jazeera English