Affiliation:
1. College of Liberal Arts, Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, MD, USA
Abstract
As the only land bridge connecting South and North America, the Darién Gap has become one of the most widely used migration paths in the Americas. It is also one of the deadliest. Fleeing poverty, economic, political and social instability, migrants on this trek come from different countries around the world. Venturing through over 60 miles of dense rainforest, steep mountains and swamps, this manuscript examines the growing importance of the Darién Gap as a strategic transit point for migrants in Latin America. Examining the dynamics of forced migration, this work also evaluates the complex confluence of factors driving migration on the Pan-American highway. Facing immense harms to personal safety and autonomy, this manuscript underscores how factors such as human rights violations, gender-based violence (GBV) and climate change have affected forced migration streams through the Darién Gap.
Reference18 articles.
1. Climate, conflict and forced migration
2. The Gendered Character of Forced Migration
3. Franco C. B. & Valdivieso L. Z. (2023). Addressing the Darien Gap migration crisis and its impact on neighboring countries. United Nations Department of Economic and Social, Affairs (DESA). https://www.cap.edu.mx/pasmun.org/back/DESA.pdf
4. Isaac H. (2022, August 22). Thousands protest in Haiti over crime and inflation. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/thousands-protest-haiti-over-crime-inflation-2022-08-22/
5. Médecins Sans Frontières. (2022). The Darién Gap is as dangerous as ever. https://www.msf.org/migrants-continue-face-danger-crossing-panama