{"id":28252,"date":"2020-03-10T11:16:42","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T16:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=28252"},"modified":"2020-03-10T11:16:42","modified_gmt":"2020-03-10T16:16:42","slug":"panama-sees-seven-fold-increase-number-migrant-children-crossing-darien-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com\/blog\/panama-sees-seven-fold-increase-number-migrant-children-crossing-darien-gap\/","title":{"rendered":"Panama sees more than seven-fold increase in number of migrant children crossing through Darien Gap"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The number of migrant children crossing the Darien Gap, a jungled portion of land separating Colombia from Central America, increased more than seven-fold to nearly 4,000 in 2019 from 522 the year before \u2013 UNICEF announced today. Approximately 50 per cent of the children were under 6 years old. Migrants who crossed in 2019 hailed from more than 50 different countries including India, Somalia, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Bangladesh.<\/p>\n

The findings are based on data from national migration services.<\/p>\n

The UN children\u2019s agency went on to warn of the grave risks facing migrant children and their families who make this perilous journey. Risks include no access to safe water, as well as exposure to natural hazards, dangerous animals, robbery, abuse and exploitation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe dramatic increase in the number of migrant children moving through the Darien Gap underscores the urgent need for action to protect these children and ensure their access to essential services such as healthcare, water and hygiene,\u201d said UNICEF Representative for Panama Kyungsun Kim. \u201cThis requires coordinated and strengthened efforts from governments and humanitarian actors on the ground responding to the flow of children on the move and their needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Migrants arriving to Panama after crossing the Darien Gap are received at the Migrant Reception Station (ERM) shelter of La Pe\u00f1ita in Darien Province, one of the least developed provinces of Panama. They are then transported by Migration Authorities to the ERM of Los Planes in Chiriqui Province at the border with Costa Rica. Most will continue northwards, hoping to reach the U.S. or Canada.<\/p>\n

UNICEF and its partners support national efforts to protect the rights of children on the move, while in transit through Panama. This work includes the development of local and national capacities while implementing the following interventions:<\/p>\n