En el infierno del Darién: el calvario de los migrantes en su camino a EE. UU.

Summary

The video captures the perilous journey of migrants crossing the Darién Gap, a dangerous 100 km stretch of jungle between Colombia and Panama. Men, women, and children, driven by the hope of reaching the U.S., face extreme challenges including dangerous wildlife, treacherous terrain, and encounters with criminal groups. Despite physical exhaustion, trauma, and loss, they press on, helping one another along the way. The story highlights the courage and desperation of migrants like Fernanda and Manuel, who fled Ecuador due to violence, as they endure a grueling five-day trek toward a distant hope.

Takeaways

• 🌿 The journey through the Darién Gap, between Colombia and Panama, is a major challenge for migrants due to its harsh jungle conditions.
• 🐍 Migrants face deadly wildlife like poisonous snakes as they trek through the difficult terrain.
• 💪 Despite the risks, migrants help each other, driven by their dream to reach the United States.
• ⛺ The journey begins at a camp run by a Colombian narcotrafficker, where the migrants receive instructions before heading into the jungle.
• 👶 Pregnant women and others facing extreme hardships are part of the group, some even giving birth or losing their babies along the way.
• 👫 Fernanda, her daughter, and Manuel, who became friends on a boat from Ecuador, are aware of the dangers like crocodiles and fatalities along the route.
• 🚶‍♂️ The journey is a grueling marathon, with migrants walking up to 10 hours a day for several days.
• 💵 Each migrant pays $350 to the cartel for the journey, a huge sum for these travelers who have already faced significant hardships.
• 💔 Personal tragedies push some to migrate. Fernanda fled domestic violence, while Manuel left Ecuador after his family was killed in a narcotrafficking-related attack.
• 👥 Along the way, the migrants encounter bodies of those who didn't survive, and witness evidence of violence and exploitation.

Q & A

What is the setting of the video?

The video is set in the Darién Gap, a dangerous jungle region on the border between Colombia and Panama.

What challenges do the migrants face in the Darién Gap?

Migrants face numerous challenges such as venomous snakes, treacherous terrain, exhaustion, lack of resources, and threats from criminals who control parts of the area.

Why are these migrants risking such a dangerous journey?

The migrants undertake the journey because they feel they have little left to lose and are driven by the hope of reaching the United States to escape violence, poverty, and instability in their home countries.

Who are some of the migrants mentioned in the video?

Fernanda and her daughter, and Manuel, are migrants from Ecuador. They met on a boat to Colombia and decided to face the dangers of the jungle together.

What personal stories of the migrants are highlighted in the video?

Fernanda left Ecuador because of domestic violence, where her partner tried to kill her. Manuel fled after refusing to join a narcotrafficking gang, which led to his house being attacked and his wife and unborn child being killed.

What role do the cartels play in the journey?

Migrants pay the cartel $350 each to make the journey through the Darién Gap. However, once inside the jungle, control shifts to bandits who exploit the migrants.

What dangers do migrants encounter in the jungle aside from the environment?

Aside from natural dangers, migrants encounter violence from criminals, such as witnessing the body of a woman who was raped and a man thrown from a cliff.

How do the migrants support each other during the journey?

The migrants help each other in various ways, including building a makeshift stretcher for a pregnant woman who injured her ankle and could not walk.

How long does the journey through the Darién Gap take?

The journey through the Darién Gap takes five days on foot, with an additional canoe trip at the end to reach the first town in Panama.

Is the journey over once the migrants reach Panama?

No, the journey is far from over. The migrants still have about 3,000 kilometers to travel through Central America to reach their final destination.