Thousands of Venezuelans risk through the deadly Darién to reach the US: “That jungle is hell” | PHOTOS

The Darien jungle, between Panama and Colombia, is one of the most dangerous routes in the world for refugees and migrants. Those who traverse it face not only a very difficult path with treacherous cliffs and swollen rivers; also to the extreme violence of groups that attack them, steal all their belongings and sexually assault them. Unlike 2021, when the majority of migrants who crossed the Darién Gap were Haitians, this year the country that predominates in the migration lists is Venezuela.

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More than 1,000 kilometers traveled by bus or on foot separate hundreds of Venezuelan families from their house. They migrated from their country for survival, as they point out. They are sitting on the grass, waiting for a tent to clear up for the night. In the Immigration Station of San Vicente (Panama) in a single day between 300 and 900 people are arriving (there are days when up to 1,500 arrive) who want to move as soon as possible to Costa Rica and proceed to the United States.

Migrants crossing the Darien jungle can take two routes: one that takes between 2 and 4 days but requires a $400 payment, and another that involves a 10-day trek that leaves serious physical scars. (Oliver Barth/MSF).

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The migration station of San Vicente is located in the Darien provincein Panama. There they arrive, after crossing the dangerous Darien junglethousands of migrants. Only in 2021 did they cross this border between Colombia Y Panama 134,000 migrants, of whom the majority were Haitians (62%) and, in varying numbers, Cubans (14%), from different African countries (3%) and from Venezuela (two%).

Solange was separated from her mother in the jungle and arrived in Bajo Chiquito two days before she did. They got separated when the group they were traveling with was attacked. Solange ran away to avoid being raped. They met again today. Lucero, an MSF nurse, prepares everything necessary to wash and treat her mother’s feet. (Sara de la Rubia/MSF).

Bajo Chiquito is an indigenous community in the Emberá Wounaan Department and is the first place where migrants arrive. With the increasing number of migrants through the Darien jungle, this community of around 400 people has been overwhelmed. The migrants arrive there after 5 to 7 days of walking. (Marcos Tamariz/MSF).

While between January and September 2022, according to figures from the Panamanian Government, they crossed the Darien 151,182 people, of which 130,012 are adults and 21,570 minors. Most come from Venezuela (107,692)Haiti (8,613), Ecuador (6,698), Cuba (4,332), India (1,921), and Senegal (1,903).

One of the most common conditions that migrants present when they arrive in Bajo Chiquito, the first town after crossing the Darién, is the damage to their feet after days walking in a tropical jungle. The feet are constantly wet, in contact with sand and mud, and end up swollen and damaged to such an extent that some cannot continue walking and give up in Darien itself. (MSF/Sara de la Rubia).

A group of migrants in Bajo Chiquito, waiting with their belongings to see if they will join the next group that will be transferred to the Migratory Reception Stations of San Vicente and Lajas Blancas. (MSF/Sara de la Rubia).

To get to Panama since Colombiamigrants have several options: pay 400 dollars to take a boat from Capurganá (Colombia) to Carreto (Panama) and then cross the jungle walking for two or three days until they reach Canáan Membrillo (Panama).

You can also travel by boat to Yaviza, Panama, but it is much more expensive.

The other route, less expensive but more dangerous, consists of walking from Capurganá to the Panamanian indigenous community of Canáan Membrillo, a journey that can take between seven and 10 days and in which robberies, assaults and cases of sexual violence are constantly reported.

Between January and August 2022, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams attended 151 cases of sexual violence occurred on the journey through the Darienalthough they are aware that there may have been more cases given the difficulties of access in different parts of the jungle.

Doctors without borders

Source: Elcomercio