Jungle between Colombia and Panama becomes highway for migrants from around the world

MicroWave@lemmy.world to News@lemmy.world – 60 points –
Jungle between Colombia and Panama becomes highway for migrants from around the world
apnews.com

Once nearly impenetrable for migrants heading north from Latin America, the jungle between Colombia and Panama this year became a speedy but still treacherous highway for hundreds of thousands of people from around the world.

Driven by economic crises, government repression and violence, migrants from China to Haiti decided to risk three days of deep mud, rushing rivers and bandits. Enterprising locals offered guides and porters, set up campsites and sold supplies to migrants, using color-coded wristbands to track who had paid for what.

Enabled by social media and Colombian organized crime, more than 506,000 migrants — nearly two-thirds Venezuelans — had crossed the Darien jungle by mid-December, double the 248,000 who set a record the previous year. Before last year, the record was barely 30,000 in 2016.

Dana Graber Ladek, the Mexico chief for the United Nation’s International Organization for Migration, said migration flows through the region this year were “historic numbers that we have never seen.”

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I recently got suggested this topic on YouTube and came across this guy. He is Greek and decides to do the trek along other immigrants and it’s just interesting seeing this stuff with no filter.

https://youtu.be/Zft0wAPxZnc?si=gwxB33oe3vpoXkpL

I watched Bald and Bankrupts version (they travel together for this video) and it was very harrowing and interesting. Highly recommend.

Just wait until climate change starts making things like fresh water hard to come by in many parts of the world.

Yes, it is very sad. When I talked to a lady who had made the trek, she told me she was coming here for a better life. I didn't say anything to her but I just thought: There is no better life here.

The American dream may be over, but better is relative; there are widespread foot shortages and rampant violence in Venezuela. We have a lot of problems but at the end of the day, you’re eating and not you won’t get murdered by organised crime, so..

Umm, yes you can and no you are not guaranteed a meal at all here in the states. They treat immigrants like shit and if Trump wins it's about to get way more hellish

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