Church shelters stranded Cubans

MORE THAN  100 migrants, mostly Cuban, are living in the Santa Ana Catholic Church in Panama City  where they are receiving medical care, food and a place to sleep.

They are waiting to get the resources needed to continue their journey to the United States.

Thousands of migrants have traveled through Panama on their way from South America to the U.S.

Sietnel Candanedo, of the charity Pastoral Cáritas de Chiriquí, said that migrants are constantly asking for help because they are out of money.

He said  that they are  moved in small groups towards Caritas in Panama City.
and currently there are 300 migrants trappedwithout funds

Alvaro Ramirez, one of those in the border area, said that they are worried because they have heard that they will be deported.

President Juan Carlos Varela is to meet with Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis to analyze the issue.

Panama has joined A number of countries  in Central America asking  the U.S. for help in dealing with the issue, of Cubans  taking advantage of  a law introduced during the early Castro years, as opponents sought to flee to the US where they were welcomed.