Moderators Moderator_02 Posted August 25, 2021 Moderators Share Posted August 25, 2021 Quote Migrant flow through Panama surpasses 64,000 Posted 24/08/2021 Some 64,000 migrants have passed through the border of Panama with Colombia this year most of them Haitians says The Minister of Security, Juan Pino and the number continues to swell with 18,850 entering the country in August en-route to the United States and Canada. The migratory situation in the region has worsened in the last three months when thousands of people of different nationalities travel through various countries in South America to reach Colombia and then through the jungle of the Panamanian province of Darien. This tour of the inhospitable region can take between seven and nine days. The migration crisis led the authorities of Panama and Colombia to hold working meetings and join other countries in order to address the situation and ensure adequate and humanitarian treatment of migrants. Other meetings are still pending to carry out actions that are also aimed at combating illegal human trafficking. Panama and Colombia have agreed to the controlled flow of about 600 migrants per day, until August 31; then it will be 500. Minister Pino reported that until yesterday 2,400 migrants had been registered in Panama and reiterated that the treatment they are given is humanitarian both at the reception and at the transfer to the border. According to figures from the Ministry of Security as of Sunday, August 22, in the shelters installed in the Darien province, the rest are located in the shelters in the Chiriquí province. The migrants begin their journey from countries such as Brazil, Chile and Ecuador. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/migrant-flow-through-panama-surpasses-64000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted September 3, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 3, 2021 Quote Over 70,000 migrants have passed through Panama this year Posted 02/09/2021 The Minister of Public Security, Juan Pino, reported Thursday, September 2, that a little more than 70.000 migrants have passed through the country so far this year. According to Pino, a "record figure." The minister said that the migratory flow in 2020 was 8,500 and, in 2019, 22,100. "Panama currently has a controlled migratory flow," in coordination with Colombia and Costa Rica said Pino, who supported this Thursday the institution's budget for the 2022 term in the Budget Commission of the National Assembly. The official indicated that this year the increase in the number of migrants has been gradual; During the month of August alone, 25,273 migrants passed through. "The Ministry of Security covers food, medical care, water service, electricity, installation of modular," he said. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/over-70000-migrants-have-passed-through-panama-this-year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 4, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 4, 2021 Quote 170 Immigrants Raped in Darien Gap Posted 02/09/2021 The National Assembly has in its possession, information that migrants who cross the Darien Gap are victims of sexual abuse. Deputy Elías Vigil, who chairs the sub-commission formed by the Assembly to analyze the complaints, assured that migrants are denouncing that those who abuse minors and adult women are indigenous. “That is painful because they are minors from 5 to 8 years old until 15 years old. Wives who come with their husbands are raped in front of their partners. This is worrying, "said the deputy. The deputy explained that the migrants report that the abuses are committed by groups of people. Official figures speak of 20 rapes, but the doctors in charge, according to Congressman Vigil, handle a report of up to 170 rapes in two months. Migrants who are only passing through Panama do not want to file complaints because of the paperwork and embarrassment. In addition, they have the objective of continuing their way to the United States. “Something must be done. We cannot remain silent ... (and let this go) unpunished, "said Deputy Zulay Rodríguez. Panama and Colombia established a daily flow of 650 people to cross the border of both countries. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/170-immigrants-raped-in-darien-gap-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted September 10, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 10, 2021 Quote 14,000 migrants on Panama border Posted 09/09/2021 The flow of migrants to Panamanian territory may exceed the estimated daily average in the coming days, after it was confirmed that in the Colombian town of Necoclí there are about 14,000 travelers waiting to continue on their way to the north of the continent. The border town is one of the last stops that migrants make before entering Darién. Jorge Augusto Tobón, mayor of Necoclí, reported that public and hospital services have collapsed. It is asking the foreign ministries of Panama and Colombia to increase the number of immigration passage permits, taking into account that it is currently at 500. "The situation is going to get complicated because between 800 and 1,200 migrants are arriving to the municipality every day," Tobón told the newspaper El Tiempo. The migration crisis in the region led the Panamanian and Colombian authorities to hold coordination meetings to ensure a controlled migration flow to guarantee the human rights of these travelers and prevent illegal trafficking of people. Panama and Colombia have reiterated that they are transit countries and that most of the migrants are destined for the United States, which is why the support of the nations of the region is expected. Robberies and rapes The Ministry of Security of Panama reported that this year, until August, approximately 64,000 migrants had passed through Isthmian territory. The majority of Haitian nationality. The flow of migrants through the jungle of the Panamanian province of Darien has generated additional concern for the authorities with reports of robberies, assaults and rapes. On Wednesday the attorney in charge of Panama, Javier Caraballo, made a tour of the Darien town of Bajo Chiquito, which is the first place where these migrants arrive, to evaluate the complaints. Caraballo announced that starting next week there will be a full-time prosecutor to receive complaints filed by migrants, reports La Prensa. "This visit and some investigations that are being carried out reveal the participation of Panamanian and Colombian citizens in the commission of this type of criminal conduct," said Caraballo. He stressed that it is important that the authorities of the countries that have to do with this flow of migrants coordinate in an adequate way in order to carry out joint actions to dismantle the criminal groups that are taking advantage of the migratory situation. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/14000-migrants-on-panama-border Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 13, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 13, 2021 Quote Panama praised for exemplary work on migration Posted 12/09/2021 In the closing event of a 23-nation conference on international migration, Panama was singled out by regional authorities for what was described as exemplary the work that the country has been executing in the matter of migratory security in relation to the biometric registry. Among the objectives of the meeting was the promotion of greater collaboration between the countries of both mechanisms to address collective challenges related to migration governance, to address irregular flows and extra-regional migration and share good practices in the management and identify the next concrete steps to jointly address these problems with respect for the human rights of migrants, in the spirit of cooperation. In addition, they highlighted the collaboration between the actors related to migration, taking into account the current challenge that the pandemic implies for the countries. Recommendations were also made, such as a dialogue to implement joint actions to address irregular migration, promote the implementation of additional avenues for regular migration, and strengthen the exchange of information in order to combat illicit trafficking and human trafficking and facilitate access to asylum and international protection systems for migrants who require it, and identify mechanisms for integration and combat xenophobia. Panama will continue to articulate efforts to favor a solution that favors, above all, the safety of people and with it, the security of the countries and their borders, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. https://www.newsroompanama.com/world/panama-praised-for-exemplary-work-on-migration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 22, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 22, 2021 Quote Twilight for 21migrant smugglers Posted 21/09/2021 Operation “Twilight” conducted by officials the public prosecutor's office in association with the National Border Service (Senafront) netted 21 people part of a network dedicated to the smuggling of migrants who entered the country through the Darien area and were later transferred to the border with Costa Rica so that they could continue on their way to the United States. Raids were carried out in the provinces of Panama, West Panama, Darién, and Chiriquí, where members of the criminal network acting as “coyotes” were captured, after charging “large amounts of money ”for the transfer of migrants. The “Twilight” operation located collaborators of the criminal network who contacted the migrants to take them to the border with Costa Rica. The specialized prosecutor against organized crime, Emeldo Márquez, explained that the criminal network captured migrants, mostly Haitians, Cubans, and Africans, in the migrant reception centers located in Darién and offered them, in exchange for money, to take them away. to Nicaragua. Prosecutor Márquez said that thanks to the collaboration of the National Border Service (Senafront), the police, and the Costa Rican authorities, it was possible to mount an operation that led to the capture of those responsible for this criminal network, who may face penalties ranging from 15 to 20 years in prison. The official said that the traffickers used a boat to bypass the checkpoints on the ground and that once on land they used various vehicles to mobilize the migrants. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/twilight-for-21migrant-smugglers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 23, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 23, 2021 Quote 19,000 migrants stranded on Colombia border Posted 22/09/2021 AFP- About 19,000 migrants, "mostly Haitians," are stranded in a port in northern Colombia waiting to board vessels that take them to the border with Panama said the Ombudsman, Carlos Carmago on Wednesday. "The migrants, Camargo added, are waiting for a quota on boats that go from the small port of Necoclí to Acandí, a border community in Panama. By an agreement between the governments of Colombia and Panama, the transit of migrants is restricted to a maximum of 650 people a day. More than 50,000 have crossed that border in 2021. Travelers must cross the Gulf of Urabá, a sea stretch of about 60 kilometers, and circumvent the threat of the Clan del Golfo, the largest armed drug trafficking organization in the region. The place is one of the main transit points for Haitians, Africans and Asians seeking to reach the United States through crossing to Darien Gap jungle, one of the toughest sections of the trip to North America. According to Camargo, the companies that offer transport in small boats are selling about 250 tickets a day each, but in recent days the number of migrants in transit arriving in Necoclí are facing the impossibility of getting a ticket. Some 11,500 people have bought tickets to make the trip before October 13. "There is an undetermined number of people who have not been able to acquire their tickets" and resort to crossing the sea in "illegal boats," added the Ombudsman. In January and July of this year, authorities had already reported the overflow of the Necoclí port, a population of about 45,000 inhabitants. Travelers often camp on the beach. Tens of thousands of migrants, especially Haitians, have arrived at the Mexican border with the United States in recent months. Many of them made the transit through Colombia. The massive influx of Haitians who have gathered under a bridge in the border town of Del Rio, Texas, has become a problem for the Biden administration. The US government has resorted to expelling them by plane back to their country. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/19000-migrants-stranded-on-colombia-border Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 24, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 24, 2021 Quote US envoy to Haiti resigns over “inhumane” deportations Posted 23/09/2021 AFP - The United States special envoy in Haiti resigned from office on Thursday, two months after his appointment, denouncing the deportations by the Joe Biden government of thousands of Haitians crossing the border from Mexico. Meanwhile, Panama has gained international attention with some 19,000 migrants, mostly Haitians stranded near the Colombian-Panama border. "I will not associate myself with the inhumane and counterproductive decision of the United States to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal migrants to Haiti," said State Department special envoy Daniel Foote in his resignation letter. In the text, addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken , Foote described Haiti as a place where American diplomats "are confined to security facilities due to the dangers posed by the armed gangs that control daily life." "Plunged in poverty and held hostage to terror," the Haitian population "simply cannot bear the forced flow of thousands of returning migrants who lack food, shelter, and money without provoking a new and inevitable human tragedy," he wrote. The official's resignation comes after the US government began last week to board Haitian citizens who entered the United States from Mexico to take them back to their country. Haitians are part of a wave of thousands of migrants crowded for several weeks in the Mexican cities of Tapachula (southern border with Guatemala) and Ciudad Acuña (north, bordering Texas). Haitian migrants arrive mainly from Brazil and Chile, where they had emigrated after the 2010 earthquake that left some 200,000 dead in Haiti. https://www.newsroompanama.com/world/us-envoy-to-haiti-resigns-over-inhumane-deportations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 24, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 24, 2021 Quote Cortizo calls on UN for joint action on migration crisis Posted 23/09/2021 President Laurentino Cortizo, in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, called on the international community to jointly address the migratory crisis that Panama is facing and that entails a "responsibility" for the entire region. He said that this crisis is growing exponentially, ensuring that in January, Panama was receiving 800 migrants, but in August of this year, the figure increased to 30,000. "Our country in a responsible manner, respectful of human rights, provides dignified treatment to these migrants and offers them temporary shelter, medical assistance, and food," said Cortizo. He called on the international community to make a joint effort with coordinated strategies and resources as soon as possible to anticipate a regional humanitarian crisis of great proportions. "We dedicate a part of our limited resources. Panama does its part. This is everyone's responsibility and it is now. I have listened to many speeches and speeches with great depth. But we have to go from speeches to concrete actions," he stressed. Climate change He then spoke about climate change, stating that the serious problems facing the planet are related to it. “What else do world leaders need to understand that it is a very high priority problem?” he asked. He highlighted that Panama is one of three countries in the world classified as carbon-negative being the country with "the best maritime and air connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean." He indicated that it has been understood that what is good for the planet is good for the economy and for each of the countries. He also highlighted that Panama is a blue world leader, complying with the 30x30 initiative to protect 30% of the oceans, a goal reached 9 years before the set date. “Panama offers itself once again as a bridge to bring nations closer together, seek common and concrete solutions to problems, and face regional and global challenges. We can do it with a route marked by solidarity and respect for Human Rights, through broad and honest dialogues to maintain social peace, "he said. https://www.newsroompanama.com/world/cortizo-calls-on-un-for-joint-action-on-migration-crisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 26, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 26, 2021 Quote Investigation of 14 migrant deaths in Darien Posted 25/09/2021 The Darien Regional Prosecutor's Office is investigating the discovery of a skeleton and 13 bodies allegedly corresponding to migrants. The first discovery was near the Tuqueza and Canaán Membrillo rivers, in the Emberá Wounaán region, on Thursday, September 23 included a minor between 8 and 10 years of age. The investigation is in charge of the superior prosecutor Julio Vergara Castillo, prosecutor of Darién. "One skeleton and five bodies were found, through a search initiated by members of the Prosecutor's Office and the National Border Service for people who were reported missing by a group of migrants," said the MP. On Friday morning, September 24, another four bodies were discovered. According to the superior prosecutor, none of the bodies carried identification documents. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/investigation-of-14-migrant-deaths-in-darien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 27, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 27, 2021 Quote Business chamber faces heart-breaking migration crisis Posted 26/09/2021 The migratory phenomenon of the XXI century is a world reality that should not be politicized or aligned with agendas but needs productive efforts on the part of all the actors in society at the international level says Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (Cciap) in its weekly newsletter on Sunday, September 3. When dealing with the migratory crisis, “there are no sole or exclusive solutions” said the Chamber. During the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, President Cortizo called on nations to make a joint effort to confront irregular migration, with strategies and resources to “anticipate a regional humanitarian crisis of serious proportions. ” For the Cciap, it is "positive" that Panama seeks support in articulating efforts in the concert of nations since the problem is greater than local capacities. “The efforts seem to be beginning to show the reality of the country around the world. This makes it possible to connect with sources of support and provide access to international cooperation agendas.” stated the organization. However, the Chamber indicated that the findings reported on the investigations carried out by the Commission for Women, Children, Youth and the Family of the National Assembly on the Colombian-Panamanian border as well as in the shelters of the province of Chiriquí The accounts of the harassment suffered by migrants "are heartbreaking, to say the least.” Panama, as a signatory of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration of the United Nations has commitments to human rights within the context of the universal and regional system that frames its responsibility as a country towards migrants. In view of this, the Cciap emphasized the need to follow up on what was reported by the investigations on the complaints reported by migrants during their journey through the Darien jungle. "At the crossroads, the country has to present itself in front of the other nations of the continent as a leader and sit at the table of decisions and actions both its neighbors and the other countries of the region in order to find shared solutions, where respect of the human condition of the migrants prevails.” said the union. https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/business-chamber-faces-heart-breaking-migration-crisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 3, 2021 Moderators Share Posted October 3, 2021 Quote 68 Cuban migrants rescued from Darien jungle Posted 02/10/2021 Some 68 Cubans, including 16 children, abandoned by smugglers, were rescued from the Darien by Panama’s Border Protection Service (Senafront) on Friday, October 1. Units of the Pacific Battalion Jaqué located the migrants and with the support of artisanal boats from the Guayabo community, completed the rescue operation. The Senafront reported that the migrants had been abandoned in Playa Cucaracha (Colombia) by supposed Colombians who were engaged in illegally moving them to Panama. The rescued migrants were taken to the Jaqué Health Center in Darién for proper medical attention. Panama faces an increase in migrants on the Darien border, which led it to appeal to the international community at the 76th session of the United Nations Assembly, to make a joint effort as soon as possible, with coordinated strategies and resources to anticipate a regional humanitarian crisis of serious proportions. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/68-cuban-migrants-rescued-from-darien-jungle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 12, 2021 Moderators Share Posted October 12, 2021 Quote 19,000 migrant children have crossed Darien jungle this year Posted 11/10/2021 AFP – A record 19,000 migrant children crossed children have crossed the inhospitable and dangerous Darien jungle this year, between Colombia and Panama, en route to the United States, UNICEF warned this Monday, alarmed by that historical maximum. "The number of migrant children who crossed the Darien Gap on foot has reached its historical maximum," despite being "one of the most dangerous places for migrants trying to reach North America," said a UNICEF report. The flow of children registered "so far this year" is almost three times more than the number registered in the previous five years combined, "added the UN agency. The Darien Gap, a 266-kilometer jungle area, has become a corridor for irregular migrants who, from South America, try to cross Central America and Mexico on their way to the United States. More than 91,000 migrants have passed through that virgin forest, of 575 thousand hectares, in 2021, according to the registry updated to October of the National Migration Service of Panama, a figure equivalent to the total of the previous five years. They are mostly Haitians and Cubans, although there are from various countries in Asia and Africa. According to Unicef, one in five of these migrants are children, mainly from Haiti or from Haitian parents who had them during their stay in Chile or Brazil. Half of the 19,000 are under the age of five. https://www.newsroompanama.com/world/19000-migrant-children-have-crossed-darien-jungle-this-year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 16, 2021 Moderators Share Posted October 16, 2021 Quote UN agencies call for safe and orderly migration routes through Darien jungle Posted 16/10/2021 Thirteen United Nations agencies have called for strengthening "safe, regular and orderly" migration routes to reduce deaths during the journey of migrants through the Darien jungle. The request was presented on Friday, October 15 in a joint statement over the increase of immigrants traveling to the United States. According to a note published in the Voice of America , the statement was presented by the United Nations Children's Agency (Unicef), the International Organization for Migration, and the High Commissioner for Migration. United Nations for Refugees, among other agencies. In the document, according to US media, the states of the region are encouraged to protect "the right to seek and receive asylum for all people on the move." The authorities of transit countries, such as Colombia and the Central American countries, are also urged "to collaborate together to reach a pact that allows for the implementation of an" effective response to the migration crisis. " On October 11, it was reported that at least 19,000 migrant children have crossed the Darien jungle between Colombia and Panama this year. "The number of migrant children who crossed the Darien Gap on foot has reached its historical maximum," despite being "one of the most dangerous places for migrants trying to reach North America," said a UNICEF report. According to Unicef, one in five migrants are children, mainly from Haiti or from Haitian parents who had them during their stay in Chile or Brazil. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/un-agencies-call-for-safe-and-orderly-migration-routes-through-darien-jungle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 18, 2021 Moderators Share Posted December 18, 2021 Quote Migrant flow through Darien Gap at all-time high MOTHER and child reunited after days of separation. - Photo courtesy Unicef Posted 18/12/2021 An unprecedented movement of 126,275 migrants across the dangerous Darien Gap has led to the reported deaths of 60, and 150 children arriving at receiving stations or shelters without their parents. A report from the National Migration Service reveals that it was a migratory flow never seen before. In 2019, some 22,102 travelers crossed the jungle border between Panama and Colombia, and in 2020 - the year in which the pandemic broke out - 8,594. The year in which the most crossed the border between Panama and Colombia was 2016, with 30,055. One of the most vulnerable groups is that of children and adolescents. Migration reports indicate that 28,344 crossed the Darien jungle in the first 11 months of 2021 (22.3% of the total registered migrants.) This year, some 150 minors arrived in the country without their parents after entering the dangerous jungle Until their parents arrive, they are cared for in this temporary home, which is known as La Casita. “La Casita is a protection space, in which boys and girls can be temporarily placed and receive food, health care, the care of a caring mother so that they can wait for their parents while they leave the jungle. ”Says Diana Romero, Unicef Emergency Specialist. Today, when International Migrants Day is commemorated, Romero explains that the international organization has been advocating for two years for Darién to have protection measures in child care, to have a place where they can be located and that they can be received in case they are separated from their parents in the jungle. As a result in 2020, they made an alliance with Aldeas SOS and articulations with governmental institutions of Panama, to realize La Casita. Arisela Góndola, a psychologist who takes care of the children who arrive at La Casita, qualifies Sanaicar as a "leader" for comforting the other infants, since, in general, on a physical and emotional level, children come out very badly when leaving of the journey in the jungle. “They see dead people on the way, they were separated from their parents and they always bring itchy skin, fungal feet, some lacerations, colds, a horrible cough, and stomach problems. Here they recover while they wait ”, she says. Graciela Mauad, director of the National Secretariat for Children and Adolescents, stressed that they have strengthened the Darien regional team with social workers, psychologists, and lawyers, to enable more frequent visits to reception stations. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/migrant-flow-through-darien-gap-at-all-time-high Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 3, 2022 Moderators Share Posted February 3, 2022 Quote Irregular migrant flow down 94% Posted 02/02/2022 The flow of irregular migrants through the Darien Gap fell to a trickle in January of this year with the daily average down to 140 from 2,400 between June and October last year a fall of 94% in those seeking a new life in the United States or Canada. Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes said at a Tuesday press conference that the Panamanian authorities are " cautiously optimistic” ….we are closely following the evolution of the profile of irregular migration," In January, a total of 4,708 people passed through Panama, in transit. Mouynes attributed the decrease, among other factors, to the diplomatic and security efforts made by the national government. Oriel Ortega, director of the National Border Service, said that the high numbers experienced in 2021 could be due to the months that the borders in the region were closed due to the pandemic. When opening them, there was a high flow of migrants seeking to continue their journey. In addition to a marked decrease in the number of irregular migrants seeking to enter Panama to transit north, there is a demographic change. In 2021, the predominant nationality of the migrants was Haitian. Now, Venezuelan predominates. Panamanian authorities cannot attribute the change to a single reason, citing "geopolitical reasons." In 2021, some 134,000irregular migrants entered Panama through the Gap. Currently, some 780 migrants are in transit in Panama, of which 50% are already in Paso Canoas, in Chiriquí, awaiting passage to Costa Rica. Security Minister Juan Manuel Pino stated that last year, a thousand people entered Bajo Chiquito every day. On the contrary, in January of this year, only two people entered through this point. The Minister of Public Security also said that now the new routes are through Canaán Membrillo, on the Atlantic side of Darién; and Jaqué, in the Pacific. "We launched an unprecedented diplomatic strategy," said Mouynes, adding that cooperation between countries in the region has been key to dealing with the migration crisis that Panama was experiencing. The cost factor The amount disbursed by the Panamanian state in 2021 to deal with the migratory situation in Darién was approximately $45 million which includes supplies for shelters, food, and medical equipment. Pino stressed that "Panama has special humanitarian treatment and is distinguished from many countries." He added that there are many aspects that add up to being able to treat these people correctly. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/irregular-migrant-flow-down-94 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 21, 2022 Moderators Share Posted March 21, 2022 Quote Violation of human rights persist in Darien jungle Posted 20/03/2022 After the visit of officials from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) to the reception centers for refugees who arrive in the province of Darién after crossing the jungle, the Center for Justice and International Law (Cejil) warned that violation of the human rights of migrants persists. A delegation from the Inter-American Court traveled last Thursday, together with the Ombudsman's Office of Panama, to the migrant reception stations of Bajo Chiquito, Lajas Blancas, and San Vicente, to corroborate compliance with standards of respect for human rights to the migrants. The president of the Inter-American Court, Ricardo Pérez Manrique, said that "we have seen progress and a willingness to resolve this... Our task will be to measure the volume of these advances in relation to what was the original purpose of the Court when it decreed the measures,” he added. In June 2020, the Inter-American Court, based in San José, Costa Rica, ordered Panama to immediately and effectively ensure access to essential health services to all migrants, without discrimination, but according to Cejil, irregular actions still persist, such as the detention of people who arrive in the town of Bajo Chiquito, being a systematic practice. In addition, cases of sexual violence have been documented, including girls. In addition, it indicates that the State of Panama has not presented protocols for the attention of these cases. Sexual violence According to Cejil, in 2021 around 288 cases of sexual violence were identified. At the same time, it warns of the absence of protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and that migrants are exposed to situations that put their health at risk. However, the report recognizes that the Panamanian State has adopted measures to improve the conditions of the 134,000 people who transited through Darién in 2021. The visit of the Inter-American Court takes place in compliance with the measures to protect migrants imposed on Panama by the Vélez Loor case, in which the Panamanian State was condemned for the poor conditions of detention to which the Ecuadorian was subjected in 2002. Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes said on her Twitter account that the country is making a great effort to offer due attention to migrants. She said that Panama shares the need to maintain the humanitarian focus and co-responsibility of all countries. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/violation-of-human-rights-persist-in-darien-jungle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted April 9, 2022 Moderators Share Posted April 9, 2022 Quote The Darien, a Gap between Hope and Despair Posted April 8 2022 With a bag full of hopes and dreams, Iriana Ureña, a 32-year-old Venezuelan mother of two, arrived at a Migrant Reception Station (ERM) in San Vicente, at the edge of the Darien Gap. The look in her eyes showing the pain of a mother who would do anything to protect her children. Iriana and her husband Eduardo decided to take the journey north from Venezuela through the jungle with their two children in search of better opportunities. The decision to leave their country, home, family, friends, and a life’s work to start all over again was a difficult but necessary one for them and many other migrants. They were hungry, dehydrated, and exhausted upon arrival at the station. “The road was not easy, I felt that our lives were in danger. It was challenging because we saw very ugly things along the road, things that I would never think I would see in my life,” said Iriana. According to statistics from Panama Migration Services, nearly 134,000 people, 80 per cent of whom were Haitians, risked their lives through the dense jungle in 2021. This is a record number of people crossing the 10,000 square mile rectangle of trackless jungle, rugged mountains, turbulent rivers, swamp, and deadly snakes that spans both sides of the border between Colombia and Panama. Today, the journey through the gap is made more perilous by criminal groups and smugglers who control the region, often extorting and sometimes sexually assaulting migrants. https://panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com/blog/news-from-panama/darien-gap-hope-despair/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Admin_03 Posted April 20, 2022 Administrators Share Posted April 20, 2022 Quote 20 countries will attend Panama meeting on migration Posted 18/04/2022 At least 20 countries have confirmed their attendance at a regional meeting on migration to be held from April 19 to 20 in Panama and that will include the participation of the head of US diplomacy, Antony Blinken. "For more than a year we have been working with the United States and other important American partners to find common ground and areas of articulation to address this phenomenon and avoid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the region," said Foreign Affairs Minister Erika Mouynes. In addition to Blinken, the Secretary of Border Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, will participate. The meeting takes place two months before the Summit of the Americas, in Los Angeles, California, with the theme "Building a sustainable, resilient and equitable future for our hemisphere." https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/20-countries-will-attend-panama-meeting-on-migration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Admin_03 Posted April 21, 2022 Administrators Share Posted April 21, 2022 Quote Panama and US sign Letter of Understanding on migration Posted 20/04/2022 The governments of Panama and the United States announced the signing of a "Letter of Understanding" on Migration Management and Protection of Migrants", in order to take action against the irregular flow of people through the region. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, highlighted that the letter seeks to improve the management of irregular migration, expand stabilization efforts in favor of receiving communities and displaced populations, as well as increase the protection of migrants and their access to legal alternatives. The document was signed by the Minister of Security of Panama, Juan Pino, and the charge d'affaires of the United States Embassy in Panama, Stewart Tuttle, on Tuesday, April 19. Blinken, and the US Secretary of Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, participated in the Ministerial Conference on Migration and Protection in Panama. "This agreement on migration management and protection of migrants is part of the general framework of migration management agreements that the United States is currently developing with its counterparts on the continent," said Blinken. In mid-March, it was reported that 30% of the 8,456 migrants who crossed the Darién jungle between January and February of this year came from Venezuela. Last year 62% of migrants were Haitians, however, but in 2022 they represent 13%. In 2022, Venezuelans displaced Haitians as the irregular migrants who enter the most through the province of Darién on their way to the United States. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama-and-us-sign-letter-of-understanding-on-migration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted May 13, 2022 Moderators Share Posted May 13, 2022 Quote 66.2% rise in flow of migrants heading for US or Canada Posted 12/05/2022 In the first four months of 2022, a total of 19,922 migrants entered Panama through the Darien jungle, a 66.2% increase over the same period in 20 21. All were heading for the perceived Shangri-la of the United States or Canada. If the flow continues at the same rate, this year will set a record in terms of entry of travelers through Darien. In the midst of this scenario are vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents who even arrive at migrant immigration stations or shelters, without the company of their parents or a relative. This week the National Border Service (Senafront) identified a girl who had a yellow alert issued by Interpol for disappearance in Peru. The minor was accompanied by another migrant, who claimed to be her father but had no documents to prove it. The National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Family (Senniaf) said that on May 10 she was placed in charge of Senniaf, and the process for family restitution began, that is, returning her to her family, with the authorities corresponding (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Consular Office of Peru in Panama). On May 11, Senniaf said a "temporary foster family" will provide care in a safe and affectionate home while the repatriation procedures are carried out with the family in Peru. Hard reality According to Migration figures, this year (between January and April) 16% of the migrants who entered through Darién were minors. Senniaf statistics reveal that between 2021 and 2022, 210 migrant children arrived at the shelters or reception houses for migrants in that province, without the company of a parent or relative. Of these 210 minors, 201 had their right to family and family life restored; which means that they were handed over to their relatives. In these cases, many times the parents are left behind on the route or path and arrive hours or days after the minors. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/662-rise-in-flow-of-migrants-heading-for-us-or-canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted May 15, 2022 Moderators Share Posted May 15, 2022 Quote Migrants rescued from trafficking network Posted 14/05/2022 Agents of the National Police, the National Border Service, and the Public Ministry rescued five migrants at the Guabalá checkpoint, in the district of Tolé, Chiriqui on Friday, May 13. A Panamanian citizen suspected of being linked to a human trafficking network from Panama to Central America was arrested. In the action, labeled Operation Trident five people – three women and two men - of Nicaraguan nationality were are recovered, from an articulated truck that was transporting a refrigerated container. Meanwhile, three other people who were traveling behind the truck in a pick-up vehicle without a license plate are being investigated. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/migrants-rescued-from-trafficking-network Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted May 26, 2022 Moderators Share Posted May 26, 2022 Quote Twilight for 12 migrant-trafficking suspects Posted 25/05/2022 Authorities of the Public Ministry and the National Border Service (Senafront) arrested 12 people on Wednesday May 25 for their alleged involvement in illegal migrant trafficking, from Panama to Costa Rica. The First Specialized Prosecutor's Office against Organized Crime, reported that 20 proceedings were carried out in different parts of the country. Prosecutor Emeldo Márquez highlighted that Operation Twilight 2 is the continuation of the investigation that took place in September 2021, in which some 24 people were apprehended. He said that the criminal group was engaged in the smuggling of national migrants from Haiti, Ecuador and Bangladesh. “This criminal behavior carries a sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison. The Public Ministry will request the formulation of the corresponding imputation, ”said Márquez. He added that this criminal network illegally moved migrants from the Panama border with Colombia to the border with Costa Rica. The arrested suspects, all Panamanians, will be brought before a guarantee judge. No migrants were located in the raids. The Senafront commissioner, Moisés Correa, announced that the raids on residences took place in the provinces of Darién, Panama, West Panama, and Veraguas, and cell phones, computers, and USB devices were seized. Prosecutor Márquez reported that in the investigations they were able to discover that this group charged between 200 and 500 dollars per person, to carry out the transfer from one point to another, evading immigration control posts. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/twilight-for-12-migrant-trafficking-suspects Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted May 29, 2022 Moderators Share Posted May 29, 2022 Quote Operation Twilight dims lights of 35 traffickers Posted 28/05/2022 The Attorney General's Office reported on the afternoon of this Saturday, May 28, that 11 people were charged with the crime of illicit human trafficking. Ten 10 of the 11 people remain provisionally detained. The request for the arrest was made to the judge of guarantees by the First Prosecutor's Office against Organized Crime, which carries out the investigation linked to the "Twilight" operations. The operation was carried out on May 25, in which several properties were raided in the provinces of Panama, Veraguas, West Panama, and Darién. The superior prosecutor Emeldo Márquez, of the First Prosecutor's Office against Organized Crime, explained on May 25 that the operation is a follow-up to the first phase of "Twilight", carried out in September 2021, in which 24 people were charged. for the crime of migrant smuggling. Moisés Correa, inspector general of the National Border Service, indicated that in “Twilight Phase 2″ 20 raids were carried out on residences in the four provinces mentioned. Correa said that 26 cell phones, three computers, and two storage units (USB) were located, which are under analysis as part of the evidence seized. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/operation-twilight-dims-lights-of-35-traffickers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted June 12, 2022 Moderators Share Posted June 12, 2022 Quote Flow of irregular migrants through Darién doubles Posted 11/06/2022 Between January and May of this year, 32,797 irregular migrants crossed the Darién border, a figure that doubles the records for the same period in 2021 (15,949). The migratory crisis has led the rulers of the region to sit down to look for alternatives to face the situation and at the Summit of the Americas, which ended Friday in Los Angeles, some agreements were reached. Shared responsibility, proposed by Panama in 2021, was supported at the Summit by the US, the main destination for migrants. The number of irregular travelers across the border between Panama and Colombia continues to increase, although with a difference compared to 2021: now, the constant are Venezuelan citizens reports La Prensa. The year 2021 is remembered for the large number of travelers from Haiti who passed through Panamanian territory on their way to the United States. After achieving the goal, thousands were taken to US shelters and then deported. In the first five months of this year, the National Migration Service (SMN) added the passage of 32,797 migrants through the border between Panama and Colombia. More than half of them were Venezuelans and, of these, 9,844 made the crossing in May. The SMN reports detail that the irregular passage of migrants across the Colombian-Panamanian border doubled in a single month this year, going from 5,667 migrants in April to 13,894 in May. In the first five months of this year, the SMN registered a monthly average of 6,559 travelers. In 2021, Panama counted the passage of 133,127 migrants. This avalanche of irregular migrants led Panama to coordinate diplomatic actions with neighboring countries including Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and the United States, to execute concrete plans so that the transfer of these people would take place safely. All this, taking into account that Panama was only – and continues to be – a transit country since the majority of irregular migrants have North America as their main destination. The Summit of the Americas had as one of its central themes the migration crisis. At the opening ceremony, US President Joe Biden stated that safe and orderly migration is important for all economies on the continent and that irregular migration "is not acceptable” https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/flow-of-irregular-migrants-through-darien-doubles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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