Hundreds of migrants have reportedly been sexually assaulted while trekking through Panama’s deadly Darien jungle on their way to the United States’ southern border, including several children abused in so-called “rape tents.”
Doctors Without Borders, a nonprofit also known as Doctors Without Borders, said in a new report that its members had treated nearly 400 sexual assault victims in the Darien Gap in 2023 alone, according to Border Report.
Much of the danger arises from groups of armed bandits who roam the wilderness, kidnapping, robbing and raping those who try to pass, according to the report.
“They hit me on the legs with a bat, because they beat those of us who didn’t have money,” said one Venezuelan victim, according to the group.
“Those who said they didn’t have money, but when they were searched they found that they did have some, they suffered even more,” the victim continued.
A new report says migrants are often sexually assaulted in the Darien Gap, a particularly treacherous part of their long journey north. AP The Darien Gap is a 60-mile stretch of jungle that hides marauders, wild animals and dangerous rivers. AFP via Getty Images
“They said, ‘Oh yeah, she has some money,’ and they raped them. I saw many people raped. I saw them abandoned naked and beaten. One, two or three grab you and rape you, and then the next one comes and rapes you again, and if you scream, they beat you.”
The Darien Gap has long been considered the most treacherous part of the extremely dangerous journey from South America to the US border.
The 60-mile stretch of rugged jungle that links Colombia to Central America often takes about six days to traverse, and its dense foliage conceals bandits, wild animals and raging rivers that threaten to kill migrants long before they can reach United States to request asylum. .
Doctors Without Borders says it has treated more than 400 victims of sexual assault this year. AFP via Getty Images Some of the victims are just children, the group said. AFP via Getty Images
Drug traffickers use the same trails to smuggle narcotics and armed groups patrol the edges of the lawless jungle.
Doctors Without Borders has called on regional governments to increase police presence to deter sexual violence against immigrants.
In October alone, the group helped 107 victims of sexual abuse, including 59 in one week, Border Report said.
“Sexual violence has consequences on people’s physical and psychological health, such as sexually transmitted infections that can affect women’s fertility if they are not treated in time,” said Carmenza Gálvez, medical coordinator of the group.
“It can expose them to HIV infection, with the consequent risk of infecting others. It can cause physical trauma, unwanted pregnancies, social isolation, feelings of guilt, recurrent thoughts about the events experienced, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, insomnia and risk of substance abuse, and increases the risk of facing sexual violence in the future. , he continued.
Migrants face many dangers on their journey through these lawless lands, but people are the main threat. AFP via Getty Images
Men who try to help victimized women are often punished accordingly.
“Some young people were also beaten and thrown to the ground for trying to defend the women,” said the Venezuelan. “They killed a child in front of us with a shot to the forehead.”
“They say that it is their land, that it must be respected and that whoever passes through there must pay,” he continued. “And whether you pay or you don’t pay, they do it anyway. They will abuse whoever they want. “They have even raped men.”
“Rape tents” are set up for that purpose, the group said.
Mayor Adams traveled to Central and South America last month to discourage people from coming north, but it appears his trip did not convince many immigrants. Carlos Ortega/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Some victims are children: the organization said it recently helped three rape victims who were just 11, 12 and 16 years old.
Crimes often go unreported because victims do not want anything to stop their journey north and fear the authorities of the countries they cross.
Despite efforts to stem the flood of migrants passing through the dangerous region, including a trip to Central and South America by New York Mayor Eric Adams last month, asylum seekers continue to arrive, Border Report said .
The price of such efforts has been high.
The organization has carried out 51,500 medical consultations, 2,400 mental health consultations, treated 17,400 injuries and treated 397 cases of sexual violence so far in 2023, according to the report.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn