Panama faces a daily influx of migrants arriving from Colombia through the perilous Darien Jungle.
In Bajo Chiquito, an indigenous village, authorities register them. Long queues for registration are common, creating a sense of never-ending work for officials.
Reinel Serrano, a top Senafront officer, expressed concerns. “We’re swamped. Tracking each migrant’s nationality and age is challenging,” he said.
Biometric checks help to identify potential criminals among the crowd.
Record numbers of people are crossing this year. Official data suggests more than 385,000 crossings so far.
Last year’s total was 248,000. If this trend continues, we could see up to 500,000 migrants by year’s end.
Also, crime rates are soaring. Many migrants report robberies. According to local authorities, these criminals are usually area locals.
Lack of funds makes life even more difficult for migrants in Bajo Chiquito.
Humanitarian groups are struggling too. Groups like UNICEF and IOM are finding it hard to keep up.
“We’re overwhelmed, not just us but every agency here,” said Elias Solis, Panamanian Red Cross chief.
Background Darien Jungle
The situation in Panama is part of a larger migration issue. This is not just a problem for Panama, but also for its neighbors.
A rise in strict border controls elsewhere pushes migrants to choose the dangerous Darien path.
Health risks are another issue. Many migrants arrive with health problems. This strains both Panama and the humanitarian groups helping out.
Security is also a concern. Screening thousands of people allows room for mistakes.
Potential criminals could slip through the cracks, raising the need for stronger checks.
The broader issue is the factors driving this migration. Lack of opportunities, violence, and political instability are the main causes.
The world needs to address these root problems.
A short-term solution could be regional cooperation. Countries could better manage migrant flows by sharing data and joint funding for aid.