Ecuadorian migrants, the second largest group that crossed the Darién until February 26

A total of 45,727 irregular migrants have crossed the Darién, the dangerous border between Panama and Colombia, on their way to North America so far in 2023. This is indicated by the official Panamanian figures released this Sunday, February 26, 2023.

Migrants cross a river at the Darién Gap, on the Panama border.

Most of the migrants who crossed that deadly jungle are from South America and the Caribbean, since of the 45,727 passers-by reported as of this Sunday, 16,110 are Haitians (the most abundant nationality), 11,070 Ecuadorians and 7,874 Venezuelans; This is indicated by the statistics of the National Migration Service provided to EFE.

Also, 1,246 are Indians, 822 Colombians, 168 Cubans, and 181 Dominicans, according to official information.

Last January, 24,634 migrants crossed the Darién and so far in February 21,093, while the previous year in this same period 4,702 and 4,262 crossed, respectively, according to statistics from the immigration authorities, which show the growing migratory flow.

Thousands of irregular migrants from countries around the world arrive in Panama daily after crossing several South American countries and the dangerous Darien jungle on their way to North America in search of better living conditions.

Last year, 248,284 passers-by crossed the jungle, an unprecedented number led by the Venezuelan exodus that sparked a migration crisis in the region.

500,000 migrants crossed the humanitarian corridor

Panama’s Ministry of Public Security said in a tweet that “since mass migration to the United States began, more than 500,000 migrants have passed through Panama through the humanitarian corridor,” established in 2009.

And he added that “during their journey, their rights have been respected, providing accommodation, food, medical attention to children and adults.”

The migration service indicated in a statement that ” entire families with children and pregnant women have been part” of this corridor, installed “by Panama in coordination with international organizations to serve half a million migrants in recent years.”

“We have a humanitarian commitment to irregular migrants who pass through Panamanian territory towards North America,” said the director of migration, Samira Gozaine, in a statement.

This February there were two tragic bus accidents that transported migrants from a shelter in Darién to another bordering Costa Rica: on February 15 a transport with 66 passengers fell off a cliff, leaving 39 dead, and last Saturday another with 57 passers-by it caught fire, with no injuries or deaths, being completely burned.

There is health care

As a result, the Panamanian authorities temporarily suspended the transfer of migrants until they review the transport that mobilizes them.

Panama registers migrants who cross the jungle and offers them health and food assistance in shelters, located in the province of Darién, where there is a presence of humanitarian organizations.

After that, the migrants are transferred by buses, paid for by themselves, to another facility in Chiriquí, on the border with Costa Rica, so that they continue on their way to North America.