Panama is mourning the death of two young girls who were swept away by a flash flood while returning home from school in a remote indigenous region. The funeral, attended by over a hundred people, became a platform to denounce the ongoing neglect of indigenous communities by the central government. Leaders from the community, such as Salomé Montezuma, highlighted the stark inequality in the country, stating there are 'two Panamas': one for the city and one for the indigenous comarcas, which are always forgotten. Indigenous communities suffer from the highest poverty rates in the country, sometimes exceeding 90%. The president expressed condolences and announced an $85 million program for infrastructure in the comarcas, including the construction of over 100 pedestrian bridges. However, the father of one of the victims questioned the authorities' commitment, recalling his repeated pleas for safety improvements that were ignored. The tragedy has once again brought to light the systemic issues of poverty, lack of infrastructure, and government neglect faced by Panama's seven indigenous ethnic groups.
