Know the truth. Speak the truth. Share the truth.

  • They don’t inform you well. I will tell you the truth
    Length
    3:13
    They told her it was dangerous and that she shouldn’t do it, but nobody told her in detail that the Darien Gap is one of the most dangerous irregular routes in the world, full of natural obstacles and organized criminal groups that increase the risks to which migrants are exposed.
  • Nature and people are ruthless
    Length
    3:00
    Even though they told him that everything was going to be alright, he realized soon that danger started in the very moment he left the camp. Each person that has crossed the Darien Gap has a unique story but before following their steps, be sure to hear the truth.
  • The Darien Gap is an inhumane place
    Length
    3:04
    For him, crossing the Darien Gap and surviving all the dangers was another chance to live. He would have liked to know about the risks he would encounter before making the decision to travel.
  • The Darien Forest is not for humans
    Length
    0:25

    Anyone would think that the forest would be easy for a young, tall man like him, but he states that no, the jungle is not a matter of strength or skill, it is simply not for humans. Yes, nature has many dangers, but the worst of mankind is also housed among the vegetation. It hurts him that no one has warned him about this. 

  • Woman separates from her son while crossing the Darien Forest
    Length
    1:16

    This woman crossed the forest with her husband and their 10 and 8-year-old children. The route became practically impossible for her, a very painful journey that diabetes made even more cruel for her. Between pain and despair, she sent her son forward to ask for help. 

  • Couple gives birth in the Darien Forest
    Length
    0:25

    This 25-year-old tells his experience crossing the Darien with his pregnant wife and they went through a series of difficulties. He prepared himself as much as he could, but nothing prepared him to face what the jungle was. He saw many videos of the forest, but none told them the truth. 

  • “They don’t inform you well. If they had explained me step by step what I have experienced here, probably I would have thought it twice and I wouldn’t have traveled by the jungle”.
    “They don’t inform you well. If they had explained me step by step what I have experienced here, probably I would have thought it twice and I wouldn’t have traveled by the jungle”.
  • “As I traveled alone, they stole my bag and the few money I had (…) Any person can show up and steal your belongings, and if you resist, they can take your life”.
    “As I traveled alone, they stole my bag and the few money I had (…) Any person can show up and steal your belongings, and if you resist, they can take your life”.
  • “If I had a job and food, I would have stayed in my country. Not every country is like they tell you, in some places you find xenophobia. Working in another country is not easy”.
    “If I had a job and food, I would have stayed in my country. Not every country is like they tell you, in some places you find xenophobia. Working in another country is not easy”.
  • When I woke up in the morning, I realized that I had slept next to a dead man. test
  • The journey is challenging. You are looking for a better life, but you end up destroying it. It's hard.
  • I didn't think it would be difficult. I thought it was an easy road because people have been traveling for a long time. I thought it was an easy road, but I realized that it is not easy at all when I arrived.
  • This is how things are in the jungle: You walk in groups and meet other people on the way, but no one will stay by your side and they will not wait for you.

Why Speak the Truth?

Ilustración

Darien Gap is a jungle of 575,000 hectares without roads that has become a frequent passage for irregular migration from South America to the United States. It is considered one of the most dangerous irregular routes in the world because it is a tropical forest -with mighty landscape, rivers, and wild animals where organized criminal groups operate.

Information on logistical aspects of the route, like entry points, costs, day of transit in the jungle, etc., is provided by people who have already traveled through the jungle. However, there is no discussion about the real risks they face when taking this migratory route. For this reason, "Speak the truth” seeks to inform potential migrants through the stories of people who crossed the Darien Gap and faced the dangers of this route. This IOM campaign aims to encourage informed decisions on regular and safe migration.

According to the Government of Panama, almost 250,000 migrants crossed the border in 2022, compared to aproximately 133,000 in 2021. Most of them are people of Venezuelan origin, although people from Ecuador, Haiti, Cuba, Asia and Africa also pass through. The actual number of people who have disappeared into the jungle in their attempt to reach the north is unknown.

 

 

Migrantinfo

 

If you are willing to stay in Panama, we have useful information for you

Which authority do I have to turn to for information on migratory regularization in Panama?

You can go to the National Migration Service or send a WhatsApp message to the line: +507-6005-0500.

Where can I find orientation about migratory regularization?

In Panama several organizations offer free orientation and assistance on migratory regularization. Some of these are:

  • Ombudsman’s Office.
  • Casa Latinoamericana Foundation (Casalat).
  • International Organization for Migration (IOM).

 

Regarding refugee status processes, you can get advice and assistance in the National Office for Refugees (ONPAR), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), HIAS Panama, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), among others.

An IOM Panama campaign with funding from: