What is the Darien Gap? And why are more migrants risking this Latin American route to get to the US?

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Darien Gap:

The Darien Gap is a dangerous, dense jungle stretching across northern Colombia and southern Panama.
Lacking paved roads, it spans approximately 60 miles (97 kilometres) and is characterized by difficult terrain including mountains, rivers, and swamps.
It has become a significant route for global human migration, requiring migrants to traverse challenging conditions for four to ten days.

Increased Crossings and Dangers:

Originally, around 10,000 people annually navigated this route, but numbers surged to 133,000 in 2021 and over half a million in 2023.
Controlled by criminal organizations, the journey is perilous, involving extortion, kidnapping, and even mass sexual assaults.
The journey’s physical challenges are immense, with reports of deaths, injuries, and diseases common among migrants.

Causes of Migration Surge:

Factors driving this surge include violence, insecurity, and instability in migrants’ home countries.
Legal immigration options being limited, particularly for individuals from low-income countries, has pushed many towards irregular migration paths like the Darien Gap.
Policy changes, such as Mexico’s visa requirement for Venezuelans in 2021, have redirected migrants towards this perilous route.

Demographics:

In 2023, Venezuelans comprised over half of the migrants, with significant numbers also from Haiti, China, Afghanistan, Nepal, Cameroon, and Angola.
The migration demographic is diverse, with over half being adult men, 26% adult women, and 20% children, including infants and toddlers.

Government and Humanitarian Responses:

Visa restrictions and governmental ambivalence towards humanitarian aid have exacerbated the dangers.
The Panamanian government’s decision to prohibit Doctors Without Borders from providing medical support in the Darien Gap in 2024 is expected to increase the risks for migrants.
The Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, announced in May 2022, aims to improve regional coordination and introduce legal programs for resettlement, humanitarian parole, and family reunification.
However, these programs are limited by nationality and often require official documents, excluding many migrants traversing the Darien Gap.

Source: DTE