As violence, displacement, and political instability continue to reshape the Americas, people across the region remain determined to find safety for themselves and their families. No immigration crackdown can erase that reality.
At the crossroads of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, Panama remains a critical migration route. Our partners at the Franciscan Network for Migrants (RFM) report a renewed increase in people crossing the dangerous Darién Gap.
After Panama temporarily shut down the Darién Gap in 2024, people fleeing mostly from Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador have once again been making the perilous journey through the jungle. Although the numbers are nowhere close to 2023, Panama's National Service on Migration report a 30% increase just in the month of August. Many emerge exhausted, traumatized, and in urgent need of support.
With support from the Quixote Center, RFM Panama is helping Claretian missionaries provide humanitarian assistance and spiritual accompaniment to migrants arriving in the Darién. The local parish regularly visits the government-run reception center in San Vicente and welcomes migrants at its parish in Aguas Frías. This year, the parish reports receiving roughly 500 people each month, including both new arrivals heading north and people returning south. Emergency funds from the Quixote Center have enabled the missionaries to distribute humanitarian kits to women, men, and children emerging from the jungle.
RFM Panama has also expanded its response across the country. At the Paso Canoas meal program on the Costa Rican border, teams of volunteers have served thousands of hot meals and helped families navigating their journey south. At Hogar Medalla Milagrosa shelter, migrants receive food, healthcare, psychosocial support, humanitarian assistance, and accompaniment, with particular attention to those most vulnerable.
As migration routes shift and humanitarian needs grow, RFM's presence provides an essential lifeline for people facing an extraordinarily difficult journey. Thanks to your continued support, they've been able to respond swiftly as new needs emerge.
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