The UN is warning of an “alarming” increase in the number of migrants crossing the dangerous Darien jungle, a dangerous migration route on the borders of Panama and Colombia, bound for the US.

So far this year a record 100,000 people have attempted to cross the jungle, six times more than during the same period in 2022.

The Darien jungle has become part of a migration route between South America and the US through Central America.

The majority of immigrants come from Haiti, Venezuela and Ecuador.

Whole families get lost in the woods

This virgin forest of 5.7 million acres with its many ravines has no road network and is full of mosquitoes and snakes. It is also infested by many gangs.

The dangers and levels of violence faced by people crossing the Darien jungle are of great concern,” said Philippa Kandler, the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Panama.

“The stories we’ve heard show the horrors that entire families go through to cross the Darien jungle. Many lost their lives or disappeared, while others managed to cross it, but now have serious health problems,” noted Giuseppe Loprete, IOM official in Panama.

“We are concerned that people who are considering taking it are not aware of the risks,” he added.

According to the two UN agencies, migrants cite economic reasons, unemployment and violence as the main reasons they leave their countries.