The Dangerous Venture Of Venezuelan Migrants In Crossing The Darién Gap To Escape The Country’s Socio-Economic Crisis
GHRTV
11-04-2022
Amanda Lemos
America and Human Rights Researcher
Global Human Rights Defence
Last week, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported an increasing number of Venezuelans that are venturing through the Darién Gap to escape the crisis and reach the northern countries of the Americas. According to the UN the number of people crossing the border almost tripled in the first two months of this year, compared to 2021.
Due to the crisis in Venezuela and the Covid-19 pandemic, the socio-economic impacts worsened in the country and many migrants and refugees prefer to take their chances in the Darién Gap to escape. The Gap, which lies between Colombia and Panama, is considered the most dangerous one in Latin America, covered by a dense tropical jungle with towering mountains and rivers, taking about 10 days to traverse. The crossing is even riskier for the elderly and sick, and many who manage to cross arrive exhausted, hungry and in need of treatment for dehydration and medical care. One of the Venezuelan migrants interviewed by UNHCR stated “I heard it was dangerous, but I didn’t think it would be that dangerous”.
The crossing is also treacherous due to bandits and criminal groups along the way that spread violence. Episodes of sexual violence and murder are common in the area. According to reports, more than 50 bodies were recovered from the trail in 2021, although it is estimated to be just a fraction of all deaths en route. The migrant interviewed by UNHCR further mentioned that the group she was travelling with encountered a gang of three gunmen who stole what few belongings and money they had. They also threatened to kill her if she did not behave, while pointing to the corpses of four women who had been shot on the trail.
Sources and further reading:
ONU News. (2022, March 29). Dispara número de migrantes cruzando selva de Darien para fugir da crise na Venezuela. Retrieved April 11, 2022, from https://news.un.org/pt/story/2022/03/1784502
ACNUR Brasil. (2022, April 5). Refugiados e migrantes se arriscam na selva em busca de segurança. Retrieved April 11, 2022, from https://www.acnur.org/portugues/2022/04/05/refugiados-e-migrantes-se-arriscam-na-selva-em-busca-de-seguranca/
