PanamaSo far this year, more than 230,000 irregular migrants have passed through Panama on their way to the United States, the Ministry of Security (Minseg) said on Sunday.
According to the statement, Venezuelans predominate among the walkers who use the Darien jungle as a land route, followed by Colombians, Ecuadorians, Chinese and Haitians, in that order.
By July, 133 unaccompanied minors had reached the isthmus and a total of 42 people had died during the dangerous journey, the report added.
According to Panamanian authorities, the control of these flows is the responsibility of the criminal gang Clan del Golfo, from Colombia, and they warn that illegal travelers are victims of assaults and rapes, in addition to facing the rigors of the jungle.
Photo Ap
As a rule, upon reaching the isthmus, migrants receive health care, food and lodging at reception stations, where they also have their biometric data taken.
Minseg stated that 36,000 migrants entered the country last January, 37,176 in February, 36,841 in March, 29,259 in April, 30,747 in May, 31,049 in June, 20,519 in July, and 9,497 so far in August.
The reduction in the number of travelers is attributed to measures adopted by the current government of José Raúl Mulino, which closed some five unauthorized crossings in the jungle and began deporting hikers to their countries of origin on charter flights, the last three to Colombia, paid for by the United States, as a result of a memorandum signed on July 1.
The National Migration Service announced that the next operations of this type will take place on August 29, with the return of Ecuadorians, and on September 3 towards India.
#thousand #migrants #passed #Panama
– 2024-08-29 17:23:24
