180 migrants boarded three boats at a port in the Panamanian Caribbean heading to the border with Colombia, on a new official route to expedite the flow of migration back to South America. Among the migrants were around fifty children, mostly Venezuelan, but also from other South American countries. Unlike previous occasions, this route will not make stops at the small islands of the Panamanian Caribbean.
Panama's migration authorities have opted to use large covered wooden vessels capable of covering long distances as a method to more safely control the return flow southward. This decision was made after a tragic shipwreck last Friday, in which an 8-year-old Venezuelan girl lost her life. The chosen maritime route prevents migrants from crossing the dangerous Darién jungle, as Panama lacks land routes to Colombia.
Before departing, some migrants expressed their nervousness and fear about the maritime crossing, especially after the aforementioned shipwreck. Kimberly Pereira, a Venezuelan accompanied by her son, mentioned that she trusted in God's will for everything to go well. Panama's Minister of Public Security, Frank Ábrego, stated that they have taken measures to regularize maritime transport and prevent migrants from becoming victims of human trafficking or criminal actions.
The goal of this new route is to ensure a controlled and safe journey for migrants, avoiding stops at unauthorized points. The final destination of the three boats is La Miel, near the border with Colombia, from where migrants will take other vessels to Necoclí. This initiative aims to facilitate and regulate the return migration flow to South America, after migrants were unable to settle in the United States.
