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August 23, 2024- Panamanian Security Minister Frank Ábrego confirms
About 45 migrants have died this year while trying to cross the dangerous Darien jungle on their way to the United States.
“According to reports received, approximately 45 people have lost their lives this year while trying to cross Panamanian territory,” Abrego declared, according to a statement released by the department.
Abrego stood by his cabinet’s figures, which show that more than 230,000 people have crossed the Darien River since 2023.
The Darien Bush has become a route of choice for an increasing number of migrants, who face not only the region’s harsh geography but also the additional dangers of organized crime gangs and threats from wild animals.
Minister Abrego warned that adverse conditions can severely affect inexperienced migrants. “Those who arrive here, guided by coyotes and facing this environment without adequate physical preparation, can suffer from heat stroke and discouragement, which often leads to fatal consequences,” he explained.
Due to the inaccessible terrain, Panamanian authorities have stressed that it is difficult to accurately count the death toll in the jungle, as bodies are difficult to recover and are often decomposed by wildlife.
Following U.S. guidelines, Panama took a step to close several routes in the Darien River, thereby expelling citizens who had ventured through the complex border crossings in recent days.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino assures further deportations of Ecuadorian migrants in the coming days
“We will gradually take appropriate measures to curb the flow of migrants through the jungle. “I am very happy to see that we have begun to reach an agreement with the United States,” Moulino concluded.
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