In 2023, a new report from the Panamanian government showed that the number of individuals who successfully crossed the dangerous Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama reached a record high of 520,000. This figure is more than double the amount reported in the previous year.
According to data from Panama’s migration agency, the majority of individuals who embarked on the hazardous journey from South America to the United States last year were from Venezuela, Ecuador, Haiti, and China.
Approximately 25% of those who crossed were individuals under the age of 18, according to Samira Gozaine, the director of the agency.
She informed the media that this is a matter of national security. Regrettably, there is no immediate resolution at hand.
Ever since Laurentino Cortizo became president of Panama in 2019, there has been a significant increase in the number of individuals crossing through the Darién region, prompting authorities to seek help from the international community.
The circumstances have been influenced, partially, by a significant rise in Venezuelans escaping the prolonged decline of the formerly prosperous oil-producing country. According to the United Nations, over 7 million Venezuelans have left their homeland in recent years.
The treacherous Darién swamps have long hindered transportation in the region, resulting in a limited number of roads and minimal government presence. For many years, drug-trafficking groups have held control over the area.
However, it continues to be the sole terrestrial route linking South America and Central America.
Individuals who traverse the Darién region face potential harm such as physical assault, sexual exploitation, being trafficked, and illness. According to a September report from Reuters, African migrants on their way to the US are choosing to fly to Nicaragua in order to avoid the hazardous conditions of the Darién Gap.
The number of individuals from China embarking on the dangerous journey has increased, partly due to Covid lockdowns limiting the economy and making it harder for Chinese citizens to obtain US visas.
Source: theguardian.com
