The Darién – Site of a Humanitarian Crisis
Between January and September 2023, over 457,000 people crossed the “green hell”, a dense tropical forest that forms the natural border between Colombia and Panama. Primarily of Venezuelan origin, but also Colombian, Haitian, Peruvian, Ecuadorian, Cuban, Chilean, Afghan, Cameroonian, or Chinese, they undertake this migratory journey in search of a dignified life, security, or freedom. If so many people take this route known for its danger, it is notably due to visa restrictions and asylum application procedures implemented by the United States government, as well as by Central American countries under cooperation agreements with the United States on migration. Lacking other options, many exiled persons are thus forced to take more dangerous routes.
This journey of approximately 100 km, 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 due to muddy terrain conditions, and the crossing of many rivers, making the situation even more perilous during rainy episodes. Beyond 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 have been frequently reported.
Exiled persons crossing the Darién have very diverse profiles, including many families, children, even young children and pregnant women, as well as persons with reduced mobility. All these people are made even more vulnerable to the dangers of this crossing.
Médecins du Monde’s Actions in the Darién
Médecins du Monde has been present in Colombia since 1987, supporting the most vulnerable people. Faced with the current humanitarian crisis, we opened a mission in October 2023 at the entrance to the Darién. This mission aims to provide medical services to exiled persons preparing to cross. We offer them access to primary health care as well as essential information and prevention actions regarding the crossing conditions. 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 administrative procedures to obtain temporary protection status in Colombia have thus delayed access to healthcare for some of the Venezuelan persons encountered. As a result, many pregnant women have not had access to prenatal care, which is essential for the mother and child.
Testimony
Tanya, 32, fled the civil war in Cameroon. From Cameroon, through Nigeria to Brazil, six and a half months pregnant, she reached the entrance to the Darién in 10 days by car. This journey was extremely difficult for her due to the jolting in the car, causing pain. Tanya was very moved to be able to hear her baby’s heartbeat and receive the necessary care from Médecins du Monde to improve the conditions of her crossing of the Darién.
Not everyone begins the Darién crossing under the same conditions. Every day, we meet people with motor disabilities, including Luz, a 12-year-old Venezuelan adolescent, who is starting the Darién crossing accompanied by her mother, hoping to receive treatment in the United States.
“YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG BECAUSE IT’S NOT EASY TO MIGRATE, TO LEAVE YOUR HOME COUNTRY FOR A COUNTRY WHERE YOU KNOW NO ONE, TO CROSS BORDERS WITH ALL THE RISKS THAT ENTAILS, ESPECIALLY WITH A DISABLED CHILD, WITHOUT KNOWING IF YOU WILL BE HELPED IN THE END.”
Testimony
Luz, a victim of several traumas, has a motor disability causing limited mobility in her lower limbs. Her mother, Gyadia, leaving her other children in Venezuela, feels compelled to go to the United States in search of specialized medical care for her daughter, as no assistance is available in Venezuela due to a lack of necessary economic resources. Luz’s health is deteriorating rapidly, as she does not have the medications she needs. Gyadia cannot afford a *mochilero* (porter, ed.), and places great hope in the solidarity of other migrants to carry her daughter during the crossing. Médecins du Monde was able to provide care and give medications to Luz to improve her crossing conditions.
For an Urgent Response to This Humanitarian Crisis
The situation of refugees and migrants undertaking the Darién crossing continues to worsen, their rights are vulnerable, and yet this crisis does not seem to attract the attention of the media and Western donors.
Médecins du Monde is raising the alarm about the humanitarian situation in the Darién and demands:
- Better regional coordination between transit and host countries to ensure access to health and the rights of exiled persons throughout their migratory journey and to prevent threats to their lives and, more broadly, to human rights.
- The establishment of safe and legal migration pathways and the removal of barriers to asylum applications.
- A financial response commensurate with the needs to ensure the continuity and development of humanitarian response actors in the region.