Panamanian authorities reported that so far this year, 189,969 people have crossed the Darien jungle, of which the vast majority, represented by 122,616, are Venezuelans.
The figures were revealed by the Operation Controlled Flow of Irregular Migrants, which is part of the National Migration Service of Panama.
Next on the list are people of Ecuadorian origin, with 12,839, and then Colombians, with 12,059.
2023 closed with 520,085 migrants crossing the Darien jungleof which 120,000 were minors, a record number compared to the 248,283 transitors who in 2022 followed this dangerous route to North America in search of better horizons.
Venezuelans, 328,667; Ecuadorians, 57,222; Haitians, 46,558 were the most frequent nationalities to cross the border jungle with Colombia last year and arrive in Panama.
On the Panamanian side, President José Raúl Mulino said he hoped to close the passage through Darién.
“We are going to close Darien and repatriate all these people accordingly”he commented.
However, from Colombia, specifically in the department of Antioquia, bordering Panama, it was warned that Actions of this type would only help to increase the flow of migrants in the area..
“Measures such as those contemplated by the new Government of Panama could further exacerbate the migratory flow”said in a statement the Necoclí Mayor’s Office.
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2024-09-21 17:44:15
