66% of the more than 230 thousand migrants who have crossed the Darien this year are Venezuelans

More than 230,000 irregular migrants crossed the jungle Darien, The natural border between Panama and Colombia that connects South and Central America, so far this year, the majority of Venezuelan nationals (66%), followed by Colombians and Ecuadorians, Panamanian authorities reported on Sunday.

Since January 1st and until now, a total of 1,000 people have crossed the jungle on their way to North America. 231,089 irregular travelersthe main nationalities being Venezuelan, with 153,226 migrants or 66.3%; the Colombian one, with 14,659 or 6.3%, and the Ecuadorian one, with 14,569 or 6.3%, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement.

The fourth nationality by number of migrants is the China with 12,067 migrants or 5.2% of the total flow until August 25, followed by the Haitianwith 11,224 (4.8%), while 25,330 have other unspecified nationalities.

Irregular migration through the border jungle is controlled by the Colombian criminal group Gulf Clanaccording to authorities in Colombia and Panama. Migrants who enter the jungle They face assaults and rapes as well as the rigors of the environment, such as wild animals and river flooding.

The decline in migration flow in July and so far this August coincides with the Panamanian measure to fence off trails in the jungle to try to channel it and the implementation of a joint plan by Panama and the United States to repatriate travelers who cross the jungle.

Return flights for irregular migrants

To date, the Government of the Panamanian presidentJose Raul Mulino“has carried out three deportation flights of migrants who have entered the national territory irregularly through the Darien Gap jungle. The first flight was on August 7ththe second on August 20 and the third last Saturday, August 24.”

The flight on August 20th “was paid for by the United States” within the framework of the bilateral agreement signed on July 1added the letter from the Ministry of Public Security.

He added that the next flight with deportees will take place on August 29 to Ecuador, the following day another will take place to Colombia and on September 3 one to India.

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