Narayan AmmachchiThe number of migrants and asylum seekers traversing the treacherous Darien Gap—a dense jungle linking South and Central America—has fallen by nearly 41% in the past year, according to Panama’s President José Raul Mulino.
Speaking to Congress, President Mulino announced the drop as a result of intensified efforts to curb irregular migration.
“We have achieved a 41 percent reduction in the flow of migrants crossing the Darien jungle,” he stated, emphasizing Panama’s commitment to managing migration flows.
Panama recorded 302,203 crossings through the Darien Gap in 2024, a sharp decline from the 520,085 migrants documented in 2023.
Despite this, the region remains perilous, with at least 55 migrants reported dead and an estimated 180 children abandoned in 2024.
Panama and the United States signed an agreement in July to stem the flow through the jungle, with the US funding deportation flights and logistical support.
Since then, over 1,500 migrants have been repatriated from Panama on US-backed flights.
In 2024, nearly 69% of migrants in the Darien Gap were from Venezuela, where political instability, economic hardship, and human rights abuses continue to drive people to seek refuge.
Add comment