Humanitarian crisis on Panama border

Once again, there is a humanitarian crisis in the border area between Colombia and Panama, as a result of the growing migration of thousands of people – between 10,000 and 15,000 in recent weeks – whose final destination, at least for most of them, is the United States. 

They seek an opportunity and better living conditions, given the extreme poverty in which they live in their country of origin, worsened by Covid-19, violence, organized crime, and political instability. Authorities from Colombia and Panama met yesterday, in search of joint formulas that guarantee dignified humanitarian conditions, while these migrants wait to continue advancing towards their final destination. The mobilization of such a large number of people is unusual and surely exceeds the installed capacity in Darien to provide care for them. However, in the face of this crisis, the country is obliged – out of the respect that every human being deserves – to provide help to these people, burdened by instability. We expect the crisis to be temporary, but as things stand, it is better to be prepared for future waves of migrants seeking new opportunities. – LA PRENSA, Aug. 7