- Authorities are searching for four missing migrants
The Colombian Navy reported on July 9 that the sinking of a boat one mile off San Andrés Island left at least one unidentified person dead, while they managed to rescue 15 migrants, six of whom are Venezuelan.
The boat, which was traveling in the waters of the Colombian Caribbean, was carrying 20 migrants of different nationalities, including six minors.
Through the X account (formerly Twitter) of the Navy, it was learned that so far the authorities are searching for four missing people.
“The Rapid Reaction Units of the Colombian Navy’s Coast Guard, with the support of an aircraft from the Colombian Air Force, are deployed in the search and rescue operation,” the Colombian agency said.
According to official information, the rescued migrants are nine adults: one Colombian, one Ecuadorian, one Iranian, one Nicaraguan, two Kazakhs and three Venezuelans; while the minors were two Kazakhs, three Venezuelans and one whose nationality has not been identified.
Migratory route
The maritime route through the Caribbean island of San Andrés in boats or clandestine vessels to Central American countries is used by migrants to avoid the Darien jungle, on the border between Colombia and Panama.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro on July 9 questioned Panama’s decision to close at least three of the crossings used by migrants to cross the Darien River, saying that this will only lead to “people drowning at sea,” referring to cases of shipwrecks in Colombian waters.
For Petro, the migration crisis might be reduced by eliminating economic blockades on Latin American countries, especially Venezuela.
The Colombian Navy indicated in March 2024 that boat operators risk the lives of migrants by setting sail without meeting the requirements for safe navigation, in addition to obtaining money illegally from these trips.
According to the institution, migrants arrive in San Andrés as tourists, with legal documentation, but then take irregular boats to reach other destinations, which puts their lives at risk.
Previous rescues of Venezuelan migrants near San Andrés
On June 14, the Colombian Navy rescued 32 migrantsfour of them minors, who were sailing in two boats in the southwest of San Andrés Island and were heading to Central America.
Among the people on board the vessels were 16 Venezuelans, five Indians, four Colombians, two Haitians, one Cuban, one Ecuadorian, one Nepalese and one Jordanian. Four of them were minors and one had “mobility limitations,” the Navy said in a statement.
On April 8th it was recorded another case of rescue: 19 migrants, including several Ecuadorians and Venezuelans, were waiting to begin their migration route to Central America.
According to the information, the Coast Guard identified a boat that was anchored in the island’s inner bay, so they activated procedures for visiting and inspecting the area.
The migrants found, 12 Ecuadorians and 7 Venezuelans, were placed at the disposal of Migración Colombia. Six minors were also on board the boat and received assistance from the Police for Children and Adolescents.
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2024-07-10 15:48:12