Refugees and migrants risking their lives crossing the Darien jungle This year they reach the record number of 500.000, more than double that in 2022, as reported this Friday by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
This massive displacement shows the scale and complexity of the migration phenomenon in the American continent. and worsens the humanitarian emergency, making A regional response based on cooperation and solidarity is imperative, the agencies stated.
The High Commissioner for Refugees described “truly “formidable” the challenges posed by displacement unprecedented in America.
"No country can, with its own tools and in isolation, address such challenges.. Only by working together with relevant key actors based on a collaborative approach and carefully observing what could be done at each stage of the journey will we be able to combat such challenges effectively,” said Filippo Grandi.
Roadless terrain
The Darién jungle is a strip of roadless land between Colombia and Panama that separates South America from Central America. People who venture to cross it must face a series of serious risks that can cost them their lives.
Among the dangers that devastate people on this irregular journey, natural phenomena stand out, sexual and gender violence, robberies, trafficking of people, extortion and kidnappings.
Migrants and refugees who decide to take risks generally find themselves desperate in their places of origin and they seek security and a better life for themselves and their families.
Most of the migrants are natives of Venezuela, Haiti, Ecuador and other South American and Caribbean countries, but there are also those from nations in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Path-based approach
These displacements pose a complicated situation for all the countries involved in the journey, so the OIM and UNHCR once again stressed the need to adopt a road-based approach that take into account the situation at the places of origin, transit and destination.
The agencies explained that such an approach would require starting with address the causes that make people leave their country, which can be addressed with greater economic investment and tackling inequality, lack of access to basic healthcare and education, violence and human rights violations.
Secondly, it would mean a Greater support to host countries to provide security and opportunities to newcomers, so that they are not pushed to continue making dangerous journeys.
For this, the role of development actors and international financial institutions in helping to strengthen national services would be crucial.
In the words of IOM Director General Amy Pope, “Host countries are calling for greater support from the international community to strengthen national services and provide integration opportunities so that people can find stability and avoid embarking on such dangerous journeys.”
Act now thinking about tomorrow
Pope stated that migrants and refugees are development engines of the strongest and most diverse communities and societies.
UNHCR and IOM advocated expand pathways for refugee resettlement and regular migration to save lives and take advantage of the development potential that they provide.
The agencies asserted that increasing existing initiatives by opening more opportunities for regular migration through humanitarian and work visas, educational exchanges and family reunification programs will benefit economies in need of labor, innovation and diversity.
Restrictive policies that create barriers to asylum and return people to places where their lives could be at risk are contrary to international refugee law and they are not the appropriate response since they lead people to take even riskier routes that only benefit migrant smugglers.
UN agencies continue to work with States, civil society and refugees and migrants in search of appropriate, long-term responses to current challenges.