Darién Gap and the
illegal immigration business
What is the Darién Gap?
Darién Gap (Darién Buffer) is a region on the border between Panama and Colombia, where a crossing made mainly by migrants from South America and the Caribbean is dangerous. The location is chosen by these wanderers to begin their journey to their final objective: the southern border of the United States of America. In general, people go to this remote and distant point of their destination because recently, under American pressure, many Central American countries started to make it difficult for migrants to enter their territories, especially those from Africa and Asia. Still, an estimated 400,000 people are expected to cross this terrain in 2023 alone.
Dangers
As it is an extremely humid and hot region, the dense forest is practically uninhabited by humans, being home to small groups made up of indigenous peoples. However, these abiotic conditions leave the perfect place for the proliferation of insects, venomous animals, reptiles and even ferocious mammals. Another factor that makes this passage difficult is the terrain, which is generally muddy due to frequent torrential rains, making episodes of landslides and burials common. However, the most terrifying factor there are the revolutionary armies and trafficking groups that command the region, commonly killing, sexually abusing, extorting or kidnapping people who try to cross over for their belongings and ideals.
Dirty market
These groups are just one part of the production chain that is facing this humanitarian crisis situation. From Colombia, where they come from, these people are subjected to extreme risk situations in search of their dream, which allows exploitation by local citizens. There are sales of camping material at stratospheric prices, breach of the value of the crossing contract, transfer of supplies of non-sanitary origin and even crossing “guides”, who are often coerced by local armed groups to charge amounts outside of what was agreed upon as a form of “toll” to cross the region. The local people where these adventurers pass prosper quickly, which leads more and more people to participate on the side of the bidders, attracted by the profit of desperation.
Destino improvável
Even after these terrible conditions, when they arrive in organized settlements in Panama, they are rarely received with drinking water or basic care, because the local government does not have the funds to receive them or even deport them. They are also discouraged by local organizations, financed by the USA, always pointing out that after the first border crossed, there are at least six more until the expected location.
It is an unfortunate path for everyone who is forced to take it, but it does not deceive with its apparent poverty and lack of structure: it is yet another market created under the profitability of trafficking, local financial unsustainability and, strictly speaking, the factor of persistence of human beings.
By Gabriel Souza in 03/11/2023
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