Hundreds of people reach
Panama every day after
crossing the Darien Gap

This jungle, in the border with
Colombia, is one of the most
dangerous migration routes

MSF is caring for the
migrants when they arrive
at Bajo Chiquito in Panama

Chyron
Bonnie Vera
MSF doctor

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The majority of our patients

arrive with injuries caused by
walking for many days.

They have been travelling
for between five and 10 days

and they arrive with
injuries as a result of that:

foot injuries, minor abrasions,
injuries caused by the humidity.

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MSF also provides
important psychological care

The experiences
on the journey
can be traumatic

Chyron
Raúl López
MSF project coordinator

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There are gangs that attack them;
they steal all their belongings.

When they get here, they haven't got
a change of clothes

or any shoes.

There are also assaults
and sexual violence.

In these cases, efforts should be made
by both governments

because we don't know if they occur

on the Colombian side
or the Panamanian side.

The authorities should try,
as far as possible,

to make the route safer,

and make protecting these migrants
a priority.

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MSF also works in two
migrant reception centres


Chyron –
Fabiola Pintado
MSF medical team leader

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After spending three or four days,
more or less, in Bajo Chiquito,

people are transferred to the migrant
reception centres,

where they wait to be allowed to travel
to the border with Costa Rica.

At these two centres, we provide
follow-up medical care.



We also treat our patients
mental health problems,

the psychological symptoms caused

by the amount of time they spend here,
waiting to be able to move on.

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Some people are held
in these centres for months

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MSF is asking Colombia and Panama
for protection mechanisms
to prevent more suffering
and deaths in the Darien jungle.