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The
migrants who made the journey that marks the start of the
dangerous trek north from South America to the United States
last year were mostly from Venezuela, Ecuador, Haiti and China,
according to the numbers from Panama's migration agency.
Around a quarter of the migrants were minors, said Samira
Gozaine, who heads the agency.
"This is a national security problem," she told reporters at a
government event. "Unfortunately, we do not have a quick
solution to solve it."
Since Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo took office in
2019, the number of migrants transiting the Darien has
skyrocketed, leading authorities to call for international aid.
The situation has been driven, in part, by a sharp increase in
Venezuelans fleeing the protracted economic and social collapse
of the once-prosperous oil nation. In recent years, more than
seven million Venezuelans have fled their country, according to
UN figures.
Those who cross the Darien risk violence, sexual abuse, human
trafficking and disease. In September, Reuters reported that
African migrants heading to the United States are flying to
Nicaragua to bypass the dangers of the Darien Gap.
The number of migrants from China making the risky trek has
jumped, partly as COVID lockdowns there slowed the economy and
as it became more difficult for Chinese nationals to obtain U.S.
visas.
(Reporting by Elida Moreno; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by
Diego Ore and Sonali Paul)
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