Migrant children surge through dangerous Panama choke point
The number of children involved in migration flows through a dangerous area of Panama, the Darien Gap, has increased by 40% this year, according to a report by the UN children's agency released today.
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UNICEF estimated that 30,000 minors used this route through the jungle between Colombia and Panama, some of whom died during the journey.
The document estimates that 139,000 migrants of all ages made the crossing during the period.
"Many children have died on this dangerous and arduous journey," said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director.
In 2022, more than half a million people crossed the dangerous migration route, many of them from Venezuela and other Latin American, African and Asian countries.
From there, migrants continue their journey to Central America and Mexico, bound for the US border.
UNICEF predicts that by the end of the year the total number of these migrants will reach 800,000, of whom 160 will be minors.
So far, Panama has helped buses with migrants cross its territory. But President-elect José Raúl Mulino promised earlier this month to close this migration route.
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