The Darién Gap: a migrant crisis in the green hell

Between January and September 2023, more than 457,000 people crossed the “green hell,” a dense tropical forest, the natural border between Colombia and Panama. Mainly of Venezuelan origin, but also Colombian, Haitian, Peruvian, Ecuadorian, Cuban, Chilean, Afghan, Cameroonian and even Chinese, they undertake this migratory journey in search of a dignified life, security or freedom. If so many people use this passage known for its dangerousness, this is notably due to visa and asylum application restrictions put in place by the United States government, but also by countries of Central America within the framework of cooperation agreements with the U.S. on migration. For lack of other routes, many are forced to take dangerous ones.

This journey of approximately 100 km and lasting 3 to 10 days or more through this dense tropical forest presents dangers such as numerous disease-carrying insects, venomous snakes, contaminated water, falls and injuries linked to conditions, muddy terrain, and the crossing of numerous rivers, making the situation even more perilous during periods of rain. In addition to the dangers linked to climatic and geographical characteristics, migrants face various forms of violence from multiple criminal groups present, as well as from certain local communities, mainly on the Panamanian side. Women and young girls are particularly exposed to gender-based and sexual violence. Gang rapes, extortion, and kidnappings were frequently reported.

People crossing the Darién Gap have very diverse profiles, and there are many families, children, including young children and pregnant women, as well as people with reduced mobility. So many people made all the more vulnerable to the dangers of this crossing.

The actions of Doctors of the World in the Darién region 

Doctors of the World  has been present in Colombia since 1987, working with the most vulnerable people. Faced with the current humanitarian crisis, we have opened a mission in October 2023 at the entrance to Darién. This mission aims to provide medical services to people preparing to cross. We offer them access to primary care as well as essential information and prevention actions concerning the conditions of the crossing. Many people met by our teams have not had access to healthcare services for a long time, due to their living conditions in their country of origin, the difficulties linked to the long migratory journey, or their administrative status in host and transit countries. The length and difficulties of the administrative procedures to obtain temporary protection status in Colombia thus delayed access to care for some of the Venezuelan people met. Thus, many pregnant women have not had access to pregnancy monitoring, which is essential for mother and child.

Tanya Testimony
 

Tanya, 32, fled the civil war in Cameroon. From Cameroon, through Nigeria to Brazil, 6 and a half months pregnant, she reached the entrance to Darién in 10 days by car. This journey was extremely difficult for her due to the shaking in the car, causing pain. Tanya was very moved to be able to listen to her baby’s heartbeat and to receive the necessary care from Doctors of the World in order to improve the conditions of her crossing of the Darién Gap.

Not everyone begins the crossing of the Darién in the same conditions. Every day we meet people with motor disabilities, including Luz, a 12-year-old Venezuelan teenager, who begins crossing the Darién accompanied by her mother, in the hope of being treated in the United States.

“YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG BECAUSE IT’S NOT EASY TO MIGRATE, TO LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN FOR A COUNTRY WHERE YOU KNOW NO ONE, TO CROSS BORDERS WITH ALL THE RISKS THAT IT REPRESENTS, EVEN MORE WITH A DISABLED CHILD, WITHOUT KNOWING IF IN THE END WE WILL HELP YOU.”

Luz Testimony

Luz, victim of several traumas, presents a motor disability leading to poor mobility of her lower limbs. Her mother Gyadia, leaving her other children in Venezuela, is forced to go to the United States in search of specialized medical care for her daughter, because no assistance is available in her country, not having the necessary economic resources. Luz’s health deteriorates rapidly, without access to the medication she needs. Gyadia cannot pay for a mochilero (porter), and places great hopes in the solidarity of other migrants to carry her daughter during the crossing. Doctors of the World was able to provide care and give medicine to Luz in order to improve her crossing conditions.
 
 

Urgent response to this humanitarian crisis
 

The situation of refugees and migrants who undertake the crossing of the Darién continues to worsen, their rights are vulnerable, and yet this crisis does not seem to attract the attention of the media and Western donors.

Doctors of the World warns of the humanitarian situation in Darién, and demands: 

1. Better coordination at the regional level between transit and host countries to guarantee access to health and rights for people exiled during their migratory journey and prevent attacks on their lives and more broadly on human rights.
2. The establishment of safe and legal migration routes, and the removal of barriers to filing asylum applications.
3. A financial response that meets needs to enable the continuity and development of humanitarian response actors in the region.

Photograph

Lucile Leverrier from Médicos del Mundo in Bogota