Attachments
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Close to 400,000 individuals have crossed the perilous Darien jungle from Colombia into Panama this year and more than 80,000 migrants braved this route in August alone, which is the highest monthly figure ever recorded (Servicio Nacional de Migracion de Panama). As a comparison, ten years ago, only 3,000 irregular migrants were registered crossing the Darien during the entirety of 2013. This phenomenon mirrors the migration trends observed in the Central American region and in Guatemala, with increasing numbers of nationals from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba and Ecuador transiting through the country, heading primarily towards North America. Distressingly, a significant number of female-headed households traveling with children have been recorded, indicating substantial and heightened exposure to protection risks, particularly gender-based violence.
According to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), predominant drivers of this irregular migration include economic hardship, high levels of insecurity and family reunification. Many of these triggers have been intensified by the socio-economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, recent extreme weather events and political unrest in countries of origin.
This unprecedented scale of movements is evident at country level, most especially in the main border towns of Esquipulas (entry point from Honduras) and Tecun Uman (exit point to Mexico). IOM and UNICEF data reveal a close to 200% increase in arrivals through Esquipulas, Guatemala, in the last two months, compared to the initial months of the year. Between April and September 2023, more than 100,000 migrants were recorded, with a worrying number of women and children in very vulnerable situations. Approximately 70% of the surveyed women are traveling with children, and nearly 40% reported experiences of violence and extortion during their migration journey (IOM’s DTM, Guatemala, Round 3, July 2023).
The majority, lacking resources to continue, find themselves stranded in various transit locations, facing increased protection risks due, in part, to limited access to safe shelter options.
In addition to temporary shelter needs, migrants in Esquipulas, Tecun Uman and other transit locations have emphasized limited access to other basic goods and services such as food, water, and non-food items, as well as access to health care, safe and clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities. Limited connectivity and the lack of reliable information on their rights and the services that are available to them increase their exposure to fraud, theft and other protection concerns.
There is an urgent need to restore the dignity and promote the rights, well-being, and safety of thousands stranded in Esquipulas and other locations, many of whom, especially female-headed households and children, require specialized protection services, mental health and psychosocial support, as well as safe water, dignity/hygiene kits with emphasis on menstrual health, medical and nutrition services. These humanitarian and protection needs will be further exacerbated by the current civil unrest stemming from the political transition. The various blockades (more than 130) that have been put up across the main roads of the country since the beginning of October 2023 are not only physically preventing individuals – including migrants – from moving from one place to another but are also impacting the economy as a whole. Prices of basic goods and commodities have doubled or tripled in less than two weeks and access to fuel is coming increasingly challenging.
Through this appeal, IOM seeks to mobilize USD 2.5 million to provide humanitarian assistance and protection services to approximately 40,000 individuals in the months ahead, whilst a comprehensive response plan is put in place.