Moderators Moderator_03 Posted June 15, 2022 Moderators Share Posted June 15, 2022 Quote Ombudsman warns of increase in minors crossing Darien Gap Posted 14/06/2022 The Colombian Ombudsman's Office has alerted the authorities about the increase in minors who are crossing into Panama through the Darién jungle, some of them unaccompanied. A statement from the Colombian entity, reports the passage towards the Darién plug of 169 boys and girls, from 0 to 12 years old, and 41 adolescents between 13 and 17 years old. Necoclí is one of several points from which irregular migrants leave for Panama. The latest report from the National Migration Service of Panama details that in May, at the migrant reception posts in Darién, the passage of 13 thousand 894 people was registered, of which 2 thousand 5 were minors. “There has also been an increase in unaccompanied children: Unicef Panama reported the arrival of 17 unaccompanied youth at its border, which affects the social fabric in the territory and violates the human rights of children, subject to special protection by part of the Colombian State”, highlights the Ombudsman of the South American nation. In the last two years, the migratory flow through the region has generated a crisis, which led the rulers of the nations of the area to sit down and talk in order to take action to stop this irregular mobilization. According to the records of Panama Migration, in five months of 2022, 32,797 travelers crossed the border through Darién, most of them from Venezuela. Of that amount, it is specified that 5,028 were minors. Most have the ultimate goal of reaching the United States. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/ombudsman-warns-of-increase-in-minors-crossing-darien-gap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 4, 2022 Moderators Share Posted July 4, 2022 Quote Two “coyotes” detained in Darien Gap Thousands of irregular migrants pass through the Darien Gap each month. Posted 03/07/2022 Two alleged "coyotes" or human traffickers were arrested and charged with migrant smuggling, after abandoning a group of four Venezuelans in the province of Darién, reported the Public Ministry. The Darién Regional Prosecutor's Office announced that the precautionary measure of provisional detention was imposed on the two citizens, after legalizing the arrest. The incident occurred between June 26 and 27, when Venezuelan migrants reported that they were abandoned by coyotes while trying to cross the Darién jungle, between an area of the Guna Yala region, in the Panamanian Caribbean, and another of the Emberá region, both near the border with Colombia. The Public Ministry explained that the migrants recognized the defendants by their clothing and physical appearance when they arrived at Canaán Membrillo, one of the first towns after crossing the jungle and the new entrance gate for passers-by. The Darién plug, an inhospitable jungle, is used every year by thousands of migrants from all over the world on their way to North America. Due to its natural characteristics, and the presence of armed groups, it is considered one of the most dangerous routes in the world. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/two-coyotes-detained-in-darien-gap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted August 10, 2022 Moderators Share Posted August 10, 2022 Quote Three migrants drowned in river Posted 09/08/2022 Three migrants died on, Monday, August 8, after being dragged by the current of the Armila River, in the Guna Yala region, when they were bathing reports the National Migration Service (SNM). The entity specified that they were two adults and a minor of approximately 16 years of age, of Venezuelan and Colombian nationalities. According to the SNM, residents of the community, along with other migrants, managed to remove the bodies of an adult and a minor, while the search for the third body continued. Three migrants died on, Monday, August 8, after being dragged by the current of the Armila River, in the Guna Yala region , when they were bathing reports the National Migration Service (SNM). The entity specified that they were two adults and a minor of approximately 16 years of age, of Venezuelan and Colombian nationalities. According to the SNM, residents of the community, along with other migrants, managed to remove the bodies of an adult and a minor, while the search for the third body continued. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/three-migrants-drowned-in-river Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 11, 2022 Moderators Share Posted September 11, 2022 Quote 1,000 migrants daily crossing Darien Gap Posted 10/09/2022 The 575,000 hectares, of Darién jungle between Colombia and Panama, saw 31,055 irregular migrants pass through in August says The National Migration Service In total, the country reports 102,067 migrants who entered through the Darien Gap between January and August 2022, while, in the same period of 2021, the records reflect 70,361. The Migration Service report details that of the 102,067 walkers who crossed the jungle 25.1% are women. Meanwhile, and14,571 are minors. For organizations such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in this dense tropical forest, migrant families with children are particularly exposed to violence, including sexual assault, human trafficking, and extortion by criminal gangs. In addition, children crossing the Darién jungle are also at risk of contracting diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, dehydration, and other ailments that require immediate attention. On August 30, the National Border System reported that its agents apprehended Venezuelan, after being identified by a group of 15 migrants, including eight minors, as an alleged "coyote" and leaving them abandoned in the jungle. The migrants were transferred to a safe port, while the Venezuelan was placed under the order of the competent authority for the alleged crime of migrant smuggling. Three days earlier, the same entity reported that they detected a boat in which migrants were traveling towards Caledonia, in the Guna Yala region. The crew of the boat, noticing the presence of the agents, fled toward the coast. during the police action two citizens of Venezuelan nationality were rescued, including a minor. Senafront maintains operations in Puerto Obaldía, to find the whereabouts of those involved in the human trafficking. Increasing flow According to Unicef, by the end of 2022, at least 160,000 migrants are expected to transit through the Darien jungle, including at least 32,000 children and adolescents and some 500 pregnant women. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/1000-migrants-daily-crossing-darien-gap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 26, 2022 Moderators Share Posted September 26, 2022 Quote Panama tracking groups attacking migrants in Darién Posted 25/09/2022 Panamanian authorities are on the trail of groups dedicated to assaulting migrants, who only seek to pass through Panama to the United States said the Minister of Public Security, Juan Manuel Pino, on Saturday during a work tour in the province of Darién. " We have flown over the area where the incidents have occurred, we are working based on the descriptions given to us by those affected, who heard people with Colombian, Venezuelan and Panamanian accents with indigenous features," Pino said. He said that "instructions have been issued to reinforce security at the points where events against migrants have been recorded, and there have been tings with the chiefs and zailas of the regions, to work together and give information about these cases”. The tour to Darién that had the objective of reinforcing security in different communities in the border areas due to the volume of migrants passing through.Tours of the reception camps in Metetí, Darién, were also carried out to supervise the care given to migrants. To date, more than 134,000 migrants have entered Panama, surpassing last year's figure when 133,726 passed through. In the months of July, August and September, there has been a marked increase in migrants, who are mostly from Venezuela, Africa, and Haiti, according to data from the Ministry of Security. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama-tracking-groups-attacking-migrants-in-darien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 3, 2022 Moderators Share Posted October 3, 2022 Quote Over 150,000 migrants pass through Darien in 9 months Posted 02/10/2022 In nine months of 2022, at least 150,000 irregular migrants have crossed the border through Darién, exceeding the the133,716 travelers in 2021. The main objective of most is to reach the United States. According to data from the National Migration System of the 151,572 irregular migrants, 107,723 are from Venezuela, 8,579 from Haiti, 4,032 from Cuba, and 14,297 from other countries. In the month of July, 22,822 migrants passed through, in August, 31,142, and in September 48,194. Currently, in Panama there are 8,566 migrants in the Bajo Chiquito, Cannán Membrillo, San Vicente and Lajas Blancas camps. Venezuelan flow In the month of September Over2,000 migrants were received per day and 80% were citizens of Venezuela. “When these people arrive, they stay for five or six days and then continue their journey. Every day, more than 2,000 migrants are sent by bus from Darién to Los Planes de Gualaca in Chiriquí, to continue their destination to the United States,” said the Minister of Security. This year some 18 people, linked to migrant smuggling, have been captured by units of the security forces In addition, the Public Ministry has received more than 40 complaints of robbery of migrants and registered at least 25 cases of rape, events that occur on the journey from Colombia to the Darién jungle. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/over-150000-migrants-pass-through-darien-in-9-months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 19, 2022 Moderators Share Posted October 19, 2022 Quote Migrant flow overwhelming Panama facilities Posted 17/10/2022 The director of the National Migration Service, Samira Gozaine, described the current situation with the large number of migrants, especially from Venezuela, who are entering through the Darién jungle in their eagerness to get to United States. On Sunday the entry of more than 4,000 migrants was registered, half of these, to Canal Membrillo and the other through Bajo Chiquito, of these it is estimated that 80% are Venezuelans, said Gozaine. For Panama, the panorama is difficult she said , since, although it is the only country that is providing humanitarian aid, it is almost running out of resources. Regarding the status of refugees or voluntary return, Gozaine stressed that Panama does not have the resources to do so and "they cry out for economic assistance to the United States, as they do with other countries" for this purpose. Nor does it have the logistical capacity to face this, however, negotiations are being carried out with the charge d'affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela, to see if they can assume the costs of the voluntary return of their thousands of citizens. She emphasized that the measure that the United States has adopted, of not allowing the entry of these people irregularly, is something that Panama had been "claiming" through the Foreign Ministry. She said that the crisis that other countries have not assumed is already costing Panama more than $50 million. So far this year, more than 190,000 people have passed through the province of Darién. Gozaine is aware that with the transit of these people, the nature of Darien is suffering, there is garbage contamination and the residents of the indigenous areas are complaining that people relieve themselves in the rivers they use to drink. "There is a price that Panama is paying for this humanitarian attention and what we are asking is that the world turns its eyes towards Panama," she emphasized. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/migrant-flow-overwhelming-panama-facilities Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 23, 2022 Moderators Share Posted October 23, 2022 Quote 435 Stranded Venezuelans leave on charter flights Posted 22/10/2022 Some 435 Venezuelan migrants stranded in Panama have been returned home on charter flights. It is expected that in the next few hours another 200 South Americans will follow. Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney, made the announcement at a Friday press conference. The coordination of the flights takes place between the Foreign Ministry, the National Immigration Service, and the Venezuelan Mission in Panama. This occurs after the United States began to apply a new policy for Venezuelans: whoever enters irregularly through the land border with Mexico will be immediately expelled to Mexican territory. The United States also announced a program that gives legal status for two years to 24,000 Venezuelans who arrive by plane and have a sponsor. Tewaney said that it seems that the new immigration policy of the United States towards Venezuelans is beginning to give "a result." Three days ago the crossing of irregular migrants from through the Darién "was 2,665, one day after 1,522 and Thursday] 1,213. It seems that the flow of travelers was going down,". Tewaney stressed that Panama is holding talks at the "highest level" with Colombia and Costa, and with the United States, and is promoting future meetings in search of concrete regional actions to resolve the humanitarian crisis. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/435-stranded-venezuelans-leave-on-charter-flights-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 24, 2022 Moderators Share Posted October 24, 2022 Quote Over 204,000 US-bound migrants cross Darién jungle this year Posted 23/10/2022 A total of 204,986 irregular migrants bound for the US have crossed the Darién jungle so far this year, the dangerous border between Colombia and Panama, in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the region, according to statistics from Panama authorities provided to EFE on Sunday. This is an unprecedented figure, much higher than the 133,726 in 2021, which set a record at the time by being higher than all the crossings of the previous decade through the jungle, a risky irregular migration route used for decades by people from all over the world. According to data from the National Migration Service (SNM) of Panama, of the 204,986 people who crossed the Darién between January 1 and October 22 of this year, 71.8% or 147,203 are Venezuelans. The rest are nationals of some thirty American, African and Asian countries. Only between October 1 and 22, 53,404 irregular migrants (39,834 Venezuelans) were counted, an unprecedented number that leaves behind the 48,204 in September, the 31,104 in August, the 22,822 in July, the 15,633 in June and the 13,894 in May. It was from last May that there was a jump in the number of irregular travelers crossing the jungle this year: there were 4,702 in January; 4,262 in February, 4,827 in March, and 6,134 in April. In this migratory wave, there are entire families with children and even babies. Many of the Venezuelans and Haitians come from second or third countries, such as Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, or Brazil, where they had already settled or tried to. US Announcement Panama receives irregular travelers at migratory reception stations (ERM) located on the border with Colombia and Costa Rica, where they take their biometric data and receive food and medical attention. In the midst of the crisis, more than 2,500 daily arrivals have been recorded lately, a figure that began to drop after the United States announced a new policy for Venezuelan migrants on October 12: everyone who arrives in the country after having irregularly crossed the border of Panama or Mexico will be expelled immediately to Mexican territory. But this Saturday 1,223 irregular migrants arrived at the Darién shelters, the SNM told EFE on Sunday. The Foreign Minister of Panama, Janaina Tewaney, said Friday that "three days ago the crossing" of irregular migrants "was 2,665, one day after 1,522 and Thursday 1,213. It seems that the flow was going down" https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/over-204000-us-bound-migrants-cross-darien-jungle-this-year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 28, 2022 Moderators Share Posted October 28, 2022 Quote Only 88 migrants have sought refuge in Panama Posted 28/10/2022 A total of 88 irregular migrants have requested refuge in Panama since 2021 in the framework of the migration crisis, evidenced by hundreds of thousands of people arriving in the country on their way to North America after crossing the dangerous Darién jungle, the natural border with Colombia. The National Office for the Attention of Refugees said Thursday that of the irregular migrants who have arrived in the Central American country through the jungle, in "2021 only 56 people requested refuge in Panama and so far in 2022 they have only presented 32 requests". Currently, Panama has 2,582 recognized refugees, said a statement released by the Ministry of Government. Panama is the gateway to Central America from the south and so far this year a record number of more than 206,000 irregular migrants, 80% of them Venezuelans, have passed through the country on their way to the United States, according to figures revealed on Tuesday by the Panamanian president, Laurentino Cortizo. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/only-88-migrants-have-sought-refuge-in-panama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 29, 2022 Moderators Share Posted October 29, 2022 Quote Panama’s plan to face the migration crisis By Adrian Prozzo on October 28, 2022 in News from Panama The United States announce to impose visas on Venezuelans for entry into that country, Panama faces a new challenge: to return Venezuelans who voluntarily decide to return to their country and exercise control over those who decide to continue their way north. Until Friday, 202,707 irregular migrants had passed through the Panamanian borders; of them, approximately 80% is Venezuelan. An unprecedented figure that exceeded the number of people who crossed in 2021, when more than 130,000 were counted. However, in the last three days the number of irregulars who walked through the trails of the Darienite jungle has decreased, 2,665 on Tuesday and 1,522 on Wednesday and on Thursday 1,213, which means that the immigration requirements have discouraged the intention, mainly of Venezuelans The Migration authorities, together with Venezuela’s mission in Panama, have coordinated charter flights for those who wish to voluntarily return to their country, costs assumed by the Embassy of Venezuela in Panama. According to the figures described by Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney, 435 Venezuelans have left this type of flight, and another 200 will be added between Friday and Saturday. In this regard, he added that he articulates cooperation with the United States and neighboring countries to take joint action and solve the problem. “An issue that involves a lot of diplomacy, and the duty is to articulate those conversations,” he said. However, the number of migrants returning to their country is far from the statistics reflected by the authorities about the irregulars who have crossed our borders and who continue to reach the United States. According to the premier of Rxteriores Relations, migrants do not intend to remain in Panama, although with the announcement of the United States it is difficult to predict the plans of those who seek a better future and decide to migrate to neighboring to neighboring countries as an alternative to their American dream. In her first formal intervention, after being appointed by President Laurentino Cortizo a couple of weeks The problem is complex, multidimensional, as described by the chancellor. As a way to address the issue in conjunction with neighboring countries, next week he will hold meetings with his peers from Costa Rica and Colombia at the meeting of the mechanism of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), which will take place in Argentina. These meetings will serve to “establish a coordination agenda and a regional strategy in conjunction with concrete actions to resolve the situation of Migration, Samira Gozaine, and other officials. The strategy that the chancellor paints, as a palliative to control the migratory flow, is to “raise the voice as a region.” In this sense, he added that next week’s summit will be crucial, “which reflects how in our country, in addition to caring for migrants, we are caring for humanitarianly.” The passage of irregular migrants through the Darien jungle also leads to a security problem that has occupied border uniformed personnel, because members of organized crime are identified who open new routes. “The Senafront has commented that there were routes that a group was planning to open, and it has been captured,” the chancellor acknowledged. It is a constant struggle, because having anticipated the movements of criminal groups does not prevent them from visualizing new routes in the future, as has happened in the past. https://panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com/blog/news-from-panama/panamas-plan-face-migration-crisis/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 2, 2022 Moderators Share Posted November 2, 2022 Quote Tri-country meeting on migrant crisis Posted 01/11/2022 The authorities of Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia will meet again to address the issue of migratory flow at the borders of the three countries, but this time to speak specifically about migrants of Venezuelan nationality who have been stranded due to the new immigration policies of the United States. At the beginning of October, it was predicted that the migration crisis would deepen in Central American countries once the border between Mexico and the US was closed to Venezuelan migrants. In the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 1 between the directors of Migration of Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia, an attempt will be made to find a solution to the "unprecedented situation" that the countries are going through due to the large number of Venezuelan migrants who have been stranded drift and that, according to, there is no exact amount of the number of people of this nationality who have been stranded. Despite the position adopted by the US, more people continue to cross the Darién jungle, although in smaller numbers since the new measures were reported. “Darién is not a route, it is a jungle that, unfortunately, due to its extra-continental, extra-regional location people, have used it,” said María Isabel Saravia, deputy director of Migration Saravia said that the migratory flow not only goes from south to north but that the new US policies cause them to be dammed in Panama. She said it is important to establish the responsibilities of the States towards the migrants who are within their territories, pointing out the commitments signed in international matters in favor of human rights and reiterating the importance that the countries have a commitment to the worrying situation and that there is a shared responsibility to face it. Venezuelan response She stressed that the Venezuelan diplomatic representation in Panama has been willing to serve its nationals, establishing shelters and selling air tickets at a reasonable price, achieving the return of more than 3,000 people. Similarly, donations have been received from private companies and citizens. Saravia assured that there are people who do not want to return to Venezuela, but to a third country from which they left, which is why the connection is being made with those embassies, assuring that responses have been received, however, she stressed that the resources are not finite. “We do not have all the facilities, Panama is a country that also has its needs, she said. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/tri-country-meeting-on-migrant-crisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 2, 2022 Moderators Share Posted November 2, 2022 Quote Health personnel treat 80 migrants a day in shelter Posted 01/11/2022 A daily average of 80 patients are treated by the Health team of the Metropolitan Region, in the temporary shelter located in Locería, since last October 24. and approximately 100 attentions to children and 10 transfers to health facilities. Israel Cedeño Metropolitan Regional Director pointed out that the pathologies most diagnosed are gastrointestinal infections, minor injuries, minor traumas, skin infections, diarrhea, and dehydration. He added that other specialized care is provided, such as that carried out by a Mental Health team with therapy, to a total of 300 migrants. Human health personnel that continues to provide daily services add up to more than 15 professionals including doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, pharmacy, medical records, mental health, social work, and health promotion, in addition to the support of the Red Cross and the Migration Service. The regional director of Health pointed out that inter-institutional work continues to support migrants who come from the provinces of Chiriquí, Darien, and the Albrook terminal, which is expected to keep the shelter active for a few more weeks. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/health-personnel-treat-80-migrants-a-day-in-shelter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 5, 2022 Moderators Share Posted November 5, 2022 Quote Panama president calls for "real US support” for the migration crisis Posted 04/11/2022 President, Laurentino Cortizo, requested "real support" from the United States to address the current migration crisis, an issue that, he stressed, is not the responsibility of Panama alone. Cortizo said this help goes beyond providing shelter, food and health services. He emphasized that these irregular migrants want to be repatriated and that requires resources and "concrete actions." He added that they hope to work on this matter with the new US ambassador to Panama, Mari Carmen Aponte, who will arrive in the country in the middle of this month. He reiterated that the number of Venezuelans in the country has decreased considerably, but not that of Ecuadorians, Haitians and transcontinentals. In recent weeks, Panama has reported a substantial drop in the flow of Venezuelan migrants after the United States announced that any Venezuelan national who enters that country having irregularly crossed the border with Mexico will be expelled to Mexican territory. The route is to the United States, is not just a Panamanian issue " Cortizo emphasized. The director of the National Immigration Service, Samira Gozaine, said that "we need countries to understand that there is co-responsibility." The official said that help has been requested from both the United States and other international organizations, but that "almost no help from them" has been received. “What we need most are repatriation expenses as these people want to go back to their homes,” Gozaine said. More than 210,000 irregular migrants in transit to the United States have entered Panama through the Darién jungle so far this year, according to official figures. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama-president-calls-for-quotreal-us-support-for-the-migration-crisis-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 10, 2022 Moderators Share Posted November 10, 2022 Quote Organized crime the only beneficiary of migration Posted 09/11/2022 Organized crime is the only one that benefits from migration and they have been the ones who have opened the route through the Darién jungle, warned Samira Gozaine director of the National Migration Service ahead of a five-country meeting on Wednesday, November 7. Gozaine acknowledged that the transit of these people through this national park has left behind garbage and pollution that affects the communities of the province. She reiterated that with meetings like the ones that will be held Wednesday with other affected countries, such as Colombia, Costa Rica and the United States itself, as the ultimate destination, the imminent crisis can be addressed. In the meeting it will be emphasized that the Darién jungle is not a route, equally, the need for urgent international aid of an economic nature, but through effective NGOs has of Health, children with a high degree of malnutrition have been detected and the Ministry of Education, has assisted children withspecial attention needs. But the crisis is taking its toll on Panama. Only on humanitarian flights according to Gozaine, more than a million dollars have been spent. This is not counting the help they have received from the Venezuelan community in Panama and both evangelical and Catholic churches. The official stressed that they are requesting co-responsibility from the rest of the countries, that each assume part of that responsibility for each person who is within their territory , provide that support for voluntary returns. On the part of the United States, there has not been much direct communication regarding the operation of voluntary flights, however, they are looking for ways to provide support through international organizations, since they also have regulations that do not allow them to provide immediate support. Through 24 humanitarian flights, Panama has been able to repatriate nearly 4,000 citizens to their native Venezuela, however, as of Tuesday, about a thousand migrants were still counted. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/organized-crime-the-only-beneficiary-of-migration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 10, 2022 Moderators Share Posted November 10, 2022 Quote The environmental impact of the migration crisis Posted 29/10/2022 The migration crisis, in addition to having a social and economic impact, also hits the environment, as thousands of migrants enter Panama through the Darién jungle, leaving a trail of pollution, due to the constant passage that alters natural ecosystems such as forests and rivers reports TVN. According to data from the Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente), the migratory movement is visible within the Darién National Park, it's 579,000 hectares the largest protected area in Central America declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981 for having elements of outstanding beauty and in recognition of its global importance. MiAmbiente reiterates that the area has been seriously affected by the passage of migrants. Many of the migrants even leave part of their luggage, clothing, and personal items that later become garbage. All this is sanitary damage, which affects the ecological integrity of the Park. Favio Gómez, head of the Darién National Park, said that during patrols shops have been found in various parts of the park. Migrants are forced to travel on land and water until they leave the park, although they often get lost in the vast forested area. He indicated that 63% of the known fauna of Panama is found in the park. There are 174 identified mammal species, of scientific importance and in danger of extinction. Gómez emphasized that the main problem as a result of migration is contamination; however, there is also hunting, since many are forced to extract animals from the natural environment as a method of subsistence for so many days inside the forest. Bird species Some important bird species are the harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja), the macaw (Ara chloroptera), the blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), the green macaw (Ara ambigua), and the scarlet macaw (Ara severa). There are also others in danger of extinction such as the jaguar or tiger (Panthera onca), the male of the bush (Tapirus bairdii, the wild pig (Tayassu pecari), the puma (Puma concolor), the spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps), the titi monkey (Saguinus geoffroyi), the mountain goat (Mazama americana), the horse bear (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). https://www.newsroompanama.com/environment/the-environmental-impact-of-the-migration-crisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 10, 2022 Moderators Share Posted November 10, 2022 Quote Passage of migrants causes environmental damage to national park Posted 01/11/2022 The passage of migrants through the Darién National Park with the aim of reaching the United States has its environmental effects says The Ministry of the Environment (Miambiente), which details that the greatest impact on biodiversity is reflected in pollution since many of the migrants leave part of their luggage, clothing, personal items that later become garbage. "All of this is sanitary damage, which affects the ecological integrity of the Darién National Park," said Víctor Cadavid, national director of Forestal de Miambiente. He added that the undergrowth is what is currently being cut, since the migrants need to widen the trail. The undergrowth is the herbaceous or vegetable part that is less than 5 meters, which when we see it from a satellite image, deforestation is not observed, he explained. Favio Gómez, head of the Darién National Park, emphasized that another problem is hunting since many are forced to extract animals from the natural environment as a method of subsistence after many days inside the forest. He argued that in the place there are some important bird species such as the harpy eagle, the macaw, and the blue, yellow, and green macaw, among others. The Darién National Park, the largest protected area in Panama and Central America, was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in 1981, and in 1983 it was recognized worldwide as a Biosphere Reserve by the Unesco Man and Biodiversity program. https://www.newsroompanama.com/environment/passage-of-migrants-causes-environmental-damage-to-national-park Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 11, 2022 Moderators Share Posted November 11, 2022 Quote MIGRATION: Panama Colombia and Costa Rica ask US aid Posted 10/11/2022 The directors of Migration of Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama have asked the US to organize a meeting with international organizations that have to do with the problem of irregular migration, before the first week of December, after the second trilateral technical meeting of these migratory entities. The meeting will be managed by the United States, so that there is an adequate channeling of the funds that these international organizations can allocate in support of Panama, which requires urgent help to continue dealing with the situation. the director of the National Migration Service (SNM), Samira Gozaine, reiterated the commitment between the three countries to work to discourage irregular migration, and the unprecedented northward flow. “It was a productive meeting. Together we can find solutions to a problem that is not just our three countries; It is a multidimensional issue of great proportions, which needs to be addressed said Gozaine and insisted to her peers from Colombia and Costa Rica that the Darién jungle "is not a migratory route," and that in this way it must be made known to prevent new migrants from trying to cross it to reach North America. Meanwhile, the deputy assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs of the United States Department of State, Emily Mendrala, indicated that the meeting will be arranged with organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and others involved in the migration issue. During the meeting held in virtual mode from the headquarters of the Panamanian Foreign Ministry, the director of Migration of Costa Rica, Marlen Luna Alfaro, seconded the Panamanian position and acknowledged that it is being "very difficult" to control the north-south migratory flow passing to our country. "Like Panama, we believe that we must discourage the interest of people who want to migrate to North America, passing through Darién and arriving in Costa Rica," explained Luna Alfaro, who spoke of "tightening Costa Rican immigration policies," as a way to stop the flow of irregular migrants. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/migration-panama-colombia-and-costa-rica-ask-us-aid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 20, 2022 Moderators Share Posted November 20, 2022 Quote Children crossing Darien Gap at all-time high Posted 20/11/2022 The number of children crossing the Darien jungle between Colombia and Panama on foot has reached an all-time high since the beginning of the year says the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), which reports that between January and October 32,488 children and adolescents have crossed the Darién plug towards United States, surpassing by 10% the total registered in the same period of 2021. The UN agency mentioned that around 900 unaccompanied adolescents have crossed the risky area since the beginning of 2022, which represents a record number compared to 200 last year. The unaccompanied are those who arrive alone or without a family member at the migrant reception stations in Darién, like those in San Vicente or Lajas Blancas. There have been cases in which the parents of minors have died during the journey. In the case of separated or unaccompanied minors, the Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Families issues a protection measure to guarantee their life and rights. They also request support from embassies and consulates, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Unicef states that children under 5 years of age, who represent 50% of migrant children, are particularly vulnerable to diarrhea, dehydration and other diseases and, the stress and danger leaves many children at risk of emotional trauma. During a visit to a migrant reception station, Hannan Sulieman, UNICEF's deputy executive director, stressed that violence, poverty and the hope of finding better living conditions push families with children to leave their homes and face the of the Darien Gap. "In Panama, it overloads the capacity of the State to provide basic services needs," said Sulieman, and UNICEF calls on all governments to take actions to protect migrant children. "Boys and girls should never again experience situations in which their safety and well-being are at risk," she added. Between January and October, some 211,355 people crossed Darién in transit to their destinations. Boys and girls, represent 15% of all migrants, https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/children-crossing-darien-gap-at-all-time-high Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 7, 2022 Moderators Share Posted December 7, 2022 Quote US ambassador visits migrant route in Darién The US ambassador in Panama, Mari Carmen Aponte and the Panamanian authorities in Darién Posted 06/12/2022 The Minister of Security, Juan Manuel Pino, made an institutional tour with the United States Ambassador, Mari Carmen Aponte and Panamanian Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney to update her on the security and migration situation in the Darién province. They were in the communities of Bajo Chiquito and the immigration reception centers in San Vicente. Pino explained to the ambassador the reality that hundreds of migrants who have passed through Panama on their way to the United States have had to experience and the work that has been done to care for the population of irregular migrants who have been offered food, accommodation and medical care. "The Senafront has done an intense job, in addition to saving human lives it has strengthened the communities while dismantling organizations dedicated to assaulting migrants," he said. Ambassador Aponte recognized the work being done by the Ministry through the security forces that protect the area and, above all, the migrants who are in such a vulnerable situation that it leads us to the countries to unite in the search for solutions Also participating in this tour were the director of the National Border Service (Senafront), Oriel Ortega, and the director of the National Migration Service, Samira Gozaine, who explained that “this year 230,000 people have passed through the jungle of Darién and that the month of October has been the most critical, with 60,000 people passing https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/us-ambassador-visits-migrant-route-in-darien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 16, 2022 Moderators Share Posted December 16, 2022 Quote Colombian drug cartel controls Darien immigrant route Posted 15/12/2022 The Columbian Clan del Golfo maintains hegemonic control of the Gulf of Urabá and has established a series of governance systems that compete with formal institutions. In other words, a kind of “criminal government” says the Fundación Ideas para la Paz (Fip), a Colombian non-governmental organization. In the case of Darién, its control has deepened since 2018, with the increase in migration and the end of the clashes between the Clan del Golfo and the National Liberation Army (ELN). The criminal group, according to the report, has managed to regulate the migratory phenomenon by accepting or prohibiting routes, establishing standards of behavior for guides and migrants, and extorting money from the different links in the migration chain. It is also specified - that this network has diversified its resources in recent years. Although it extracts money from all the legal, informal, and illegal economies present in the territory, drug trafficking, illegal mining and widespread extortion in all economic sectors continue to be its main sources of financing. However, in the last two years, income from migrant smuggling has become an important source of income for the organization. Despite the fact that it has become the regulatory actor for this activity, the logistics operators of the routes are not part of the armed group but have no other option than to abide by the rules imposed by the clan, including paying a tax. It is also established that the transit of maritime vessels, after leaving Necoclí, Antioquia, and other border towns, earns them at least $127,000 per month without including the charge for the use of land routes and accommodation. 230,000 migrants Figures from the Ministry of Security reveal that from January to November 2022, 230,000 migrants passed through the Darién jungle. The Minister of Security, Juan Pino, during a tour of the area in early December with the United States Ambassador, assured that the National Border Service (Senafront) maintains constant surveillance of the routes used by migrants in order to give them attention and prevent them from being victims of criminal gangs. According to Pino, many of the migrants arrive in the Darién deceived, since they are assured that it is an easy route and end up paying large amounts to the so-called "coyotes" for transportation and guide service. Many end up abandoned on the route. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/colombian-drug-cartel-controls-darien-immigrant-route Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 21, 2022 Moderators Share Posted December 21, 2022 Quote 27 arrested in migrant smuggling bust Posted 20/12/2022 A total of 27 people (20 in Costa Rica and 7 in Panama) have been apprehended for migrant smuggling. by the First Prosecutor against Organized Crime and Costa Rican authorities in a cross-border operation “Matrioska.” During the development of the operation, at least eight cell phones, a vehicle, four passports of citizens of Nepal, and more than $1,000. in cash were seized. The captured citizens will be brought before a guarantee judge. Operation Matrioska arises after eight months of investigation against the criminal organization that operates in Panama and Costa Rica through human trafficking, especially Haitian, Indian, Ecuadorian, and Venezuelan nationals. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/27-arrested-in-migrant-smuggling-bust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 21, 2022 Moderators Share Posted December 21, 2022 Quote 236,000 migrants passed through Darien by mid-December Posted 20/12/2022 Figures from the National Migration Service indicate that up to mid-December 2022, 236,000 migrants have passed through Darien. That is, more than 100,000 more people than in all of 2021, said Samira Gozaine, migration director. In 2021 the figure was 133 thousand 716 travelers. Gozaine indicated that in the last two days a little more than a thousand migrants have arrived, so they expect Panama to close with a figure of 240,000 in 2022. She estimated that the country has allocated close to $50 million to assist migrants. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/236000-migrants-passed-through-darien-by-mid-december Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted January 18, 2023 Moderators Share Posted January 18, 2023 Quote 28 victims of human traffickers forced to beg on streets Posted 17/01/2023 A criminal group dedicated to human trafficking in the form of labor exploitation was dismantled, with the capture of six of its members during raids by the National Police and the Public Ministry in “Operation Omega” on Tuesday, January 17. Among those captured are four citizens of Venezuelan nationality, a Brazilian and a Canadian, who are being linked to the investigations carried out by the Specialized Superior Prosecutor's Office Against Organized Crime. Operation Omega carried out six search procedures in sectors of the province of Panama, such as Paitilla, Vía Argentina, Calle 50, and 12 de Octubre, and in the province of Coclé, in the Farallón sector. Among the victims, there are 21 adults and 7 minors, of Venezuelan, Costa Rican, and Panamanian nationalities. In the proceedings, cash, technological equipment, and garments were seized as part of the merchandise that the victims were forced to sell, and also some 43 exotic birds that were found in captivity in one of the raided buildings in the Paitilla sector. The authorities reported that the criminal group recruited national and foreign people, forcing them to sell products at traffic lights, in forced begging, under the deception of a certain "religious culture." https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/28-victims-of-human-traffickers-forced-to-beg-on-streets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted January 21, 2023 Moderators Share Posted January 21, 2023 Quote Over 12,000 migrants crossed Darién border in first 20 days Posted 20/01/2023 In the first 20 days of 2023, irregular migration across the Darién border was more than 12,000 s, said the deputy director of the National Migration Service, María Isabel Zaravia. To date, there is an increase in nationals from Ecuador, Haiti, and Colombia, and no decrease is expected. Saravia specified that the dynamics of the flow are already denoting changes to the two previous years; but the situation of the foreigners is the same, those who arrive want to continue their journey to the United States. The number of irregular migrants who arrived in Panama on their way to the United States almost doubled in 2022, reaching a record of 248,000, and more than half were Venezuelans, the immigration authority reported Sunday. The National Migration Service specified that 247,810 irregular migrants passed through that country, of which 150,289 were Venezuelans. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/over-12000-migrants-crossed-darien-border-in-first-20-days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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