PANAMA: Migrants from Africa, Cuba, India, and other nations are stranded in the Darien Gap, a jungle between Panama and Colombia.
African migrants from countries like Cameroon, Nigeria, DR Congo, Eritrea, and Burkina Faso flee conflict and economic hardships in their countries to seek asylum in the United States and Canada via the dangerous jungles of Central America.
Along with the African countries, asylum seekers from many Asian nations including Syria, Pakistan, and Nepal leave their countries to seek asylum in the US and Canada.
Jorge Bernal, an executive of the First Oriental Brigade of the Panama National Border Service (SEAFRONT) told local media that he has reports of around 800 migrants who are going to reach Panama during the third week of February.
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The Darien Gap has become the new passage for African immigrants over the years after the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas which provide direct passage to Europe.
Spain’s Canary Islands and the Italian port city of Lampedusa have been hotspots for migrants who are using the North African passage.
According to the International Organization of Migration, three deaths of migrants have been recorded in Central America this year.
