Migration through perilous Darien jungle

A record number of migrant children have crossed the dangerous Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama on their way to the United States, according to the UN children’s agency UNICEF


Pan-American Highway
Panama City
Gulf of Panama
Darien Gap: Rugged jungle infested with wild animals and armed gangs
PACIFIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
Capurgana
Gulf of Darien
Acandi
Yaviza
PANAMA
Gulf of Uraba
COLOMBIA
Necocli
Turbo
Pan-American Highway

50km 30 miles

Typical migrant routes
Sea crossing	Walking trail



19,000
Number of children crossing Darien Gap from Jan-Sep 2021 – almost three times higher than total
for previous five years

One in five migrants crossing jungle are children – half of those are below age of five

Young migrant being carried northwards near Acandi, Colombia


Sources: Associated Press, UNICEF
Picture: Associated Press
© GRAPHIC NEWS