Panama has reported a five-fold surge in migration through its southern jungles, posing a fresh challenge to the US government of President Joe Biden as it prepares to lift health regulations that allowed it to turn migrants away at the border.
(Bloomberg) — Panama has reported a five-fold surge in migration through its southern jungles, posing a fresh challenge to the US government of President Joe Biden as it prepares to lift health regulations that allowed it to turn migrants away at the border.
More than 49,000 migrants have entered Panama from Colombia through the region known as the Darien Gap in January and February this year, from fewer than 9,000 during the same period in 2022, according to data published by Panama’s immigration service.Â
The largest number of migrants came from Haiti, which has descended into anarchy in recent years, followed by Ecuador and Venezuela.Â
Read more: Haiti Suffers Famine-Like Conditions as Chaos Paralyzes Economy
Panamanian authorities also reported a 3,000% increase in Chinese nationals crossing the Darien over the same period, with 2,198 making the trip in January and February.Â
The Asian giant ended its zero-Covid policy in December, making foreign travel easier. Before the pandemic, almost no Chinese made the trip. Â
The Darien is one of the deadliest and most lawless places on earth, where migrants might collapse from hunger, be swept away by rivers, or be robbed and raped.Â
Panama saw a large influx of Venezuelans entering through the Darien in September and October last year, under the understanding they would qualify for U.S. asylum. That ended when the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden expanded a Trump-era policy of sending back such refugees into Mexico.Â
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