In a surprising change of events, the Darien Gap, the inhospitable and impenetrable jungle region separating Panama and Colombia, has seen an increase in human crossings, reaching an all-time high. As officials confirm the astonishing figures, concerns about migration and humanitarian issues grow.
According to Maria Isabel Saravia, deputy head of Panama’s migration office, the already-high number of crossings in 2022 was surpassed. According to her, last year was “unprecedented,” with 248,284 individuals passing through the Darién National Park.
As the year progresses, 2023 is exceeding that figure. “With today’s and yesterday’s crossings of 1,869 people, there have been 248,901 crossings,” Saravia announced Monday.
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- Unprecedented Human Migration: Darien Gap Registers Historic Number Of Crossings
- What Is Darien Gap?
Unprecedented Human Migration: Darien Gap Registers Historic Number Of Crossings
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As per the authorities, over 20% of those attempting the perilous journey are youngsters and teenagers. “At least 51% of those in that age group are children aged five or younger.” We exceeded last year’s total, as the numbers (…) predicted. “In terms of crossings, the last three years have been significantly higher than the previous 11 years,” Saravia remarked.
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According to her, most of those crossing are Venezuelans and Haitians, followed by Colombians, Ecuadorians, and migrants from outside the continent. The 66-mile (106-kilometre) trek across the Darien Gap and is a critical route for people wanting to reach the United States and Canada.
Many individuals are migrating north due to mass migration across the Western Hemisphere. However, despite officials’ warnings that a surge in illegal migration across the US southern border would accompany the May expiration of a Trump-era border restriction. Which had been used to turn back migrants at the US-Mexico border during the pandemic, the number of daily encounters along the US border remained low in June.
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“As a result of planning and execution – which combined stiffer consequences for unlawful entry with a historic expansion of lawful pathways and processes – unlawful entries between ports of entry along the South-west Border have decreased by more than 70 percent since May 11,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a June news release.
What Is Darien Gap?
The Darien Gap is a dense and remote tropical rainforest region between Panama’s east and Colombia’s west. It reaches around 100 miles (160 kilometres) and is a natural barrier that cuts through the Pan-American Highway, which runs from Alaska to Argentina.
This region is distinguished by its rugged topography, harsh mountains, bogs, and rivers, making it nearly impassable by road. As a result, it leaves a significant gap in the highway network, giving rise to the term “Darien Gap.” Because of a lack of infrastructure and transportation links, this area is one of the few remaining areas in the Americas that has escaped chiefly human development.
The Darien Gap has earned a reputation as a complex and dangerous passage for migrants seeking to cross from South America to North America or vice versa. Many migrants and asylum seekers from South and Central America, Africa, and Asia try to cross this hostile territory on their way to the United States in search of better chances or refuge.
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The trek is fraught with dangers, such as exposure to extreme environmental conditions, wildlife threats, and criminal networks that exploit and threaten migrants.
Authorities and humanitarian organisations have expressed concern about the risks posed by this migratory route, and attempts are being undertaken to overcome the difficulties encountered by people attempting to traverse the Darien Gap.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn