Immigrants are being swallowed up by the jungle and Panama is witness to this. So far in 2024, a total of 284,838 undocumented migrants have crossed through the jungle, mostly Venezuelans, Colombians, Ecuadorians, Chinese and Haitians. Hundreds of them have died in 2024.
According to the Panamanian migration authorities, 172 travellers who do not have the documents to live in other countries have lost their lives so far this year in the tragic journey through the inhospitable jungle. This is a record compared to previous years, when the annual average number of deaths was around 50 people or less.
Hence the alert about the increase in the number of undocumented migrants who have died on their way through the Darién border with Colombia on their way to the United States.
Data from the Missing Migrants Project of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) show that between 2015 and 2024, 536 migrant deaths have been recorded in this jungle. According to the IOM, drowning remains the main cause of death among migrants attempting to cross the Darien Gap, in addition to violence by criminal groups operating in the area, illnesses resulting from the harsh conditions in the jungle, lack of access to health services and fatal accidents.
For the Ministry of Security, in the midst of this tragic reality, the flow of irregular migrants using this land route has shown a notable decrease in recent months.
Reports from the National Migration Service state that between 1 and 30 October this year, 21,542 people were reported to have entered the country through the Darién, while in September the number was 25,111.
So far in 2024, a total of 284,838 undocumented migrants have crossed through the jungle, mostly Venezuelans, Colombians, Ecuadorians, Chinese and Haitians. On July 1, The Panamanian government signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States to support air operations for the repatriation of undocumented migrants, and to date 23 charter flights have been carried out and more than 800 people have been returned, including some with criminal records and links to drug trafficking offences.
Panama has also closed illegal smuggling routes used by migrants by implementing a perimeter barrier and increased maritime patrols in the Caribbean. PL
(Translated by Cristina Popa – Email: gcpopa83@gmail.com) – Photos: Pixabay
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