Panama warns more than 10 migrants drown after Darien rivers overflow

Unfortunately, we have recovered more than 10 bodies in rivers in the past few weeks, as migrants who irregularly travel to North America “continue to insist on crossing the forest, the dangerous natural border between Panama and Colombia.” mighty rivers,” said Gozaine.

According to the Lost Migrants Project data of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), updated as of May 30, this year 19 people on the move disappeared in the Darién forest, compared to 137 in 2022. Losses recorded in the forest by the IOM Program are occurring near major rivers. Also bites by snakes or spiders and accidents severely injuring the person and depriving them of the opportunity to attract attention.

Gozaine argued that the Darién rivers were “too swollen”, which he attributed to the “slightly” reduced flow of irregular travelers to Panama after crossing the jungle they entered from Colombia. On Tuesday, the director of the Panamanian National Immigration Service said that “790 people entered through the jungle path”, a figure well below the 1,000 who did so weeks ago, according to official data. “Therefore, we continue to receive immigrants. About 170,000 people have entered Panama so far this year“An extremely high number compared to previous years,” Gozaine added.

In the first five months of 2022, a total of 33,819 migrants crossed Darién; closed for North America this year with a record 248,284 passengers. The continent’s unprecedented migration crisis has made Panama authorities think the number of irregular passengers arriving in the country in 2022 could double by the end of this year. The immigration policy change implemented by the United States as of this May has raised expectations as to whether it will deter immigrants from embarking on this dangerous journey north.