Olef and Zeus, two twins restless one and half yearthey believe that they are going to “do animal safari“That’s what their mother told them on the bus ride from Venezuela For “camouflagethe real reason: cross the dangerous jungles of Darien achieve Panama Stopover in the USA.

WITH kangaroo to carry one of the babies in the chest and another one in back, Yasmeri Jalmeida, Venezuelan motherpreparing for a difficult journey 97 kilometers between Colombia and Panamawhere is her husband.

Although it takes months I rise with them to hills and I do crossings “more than 70 kilometers,” he knows it will be a challenge for the three of them, but he maintains a good attitude thanks to hope find one better life.

Like them, thousands of families with children set off on their journey to the sounds of their little ones screaming, not understanding why they are taking so long to return home, boats who are leaving the city Colombian from Turbo to Acandi, the border with Panama and where is it Darien Wild Trail.

In the first quarter of this year recording of children crossing Darienthat, according to the data United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is top 40% than for the same period of the previous year, and more 30,000 children on the route.

One of these children, about to board the plane, meets Angela, one of the Children’s Villages employees who accompanies the families, while she puts a stamp on her hand with a smiling face and says: “This is to protect you.“.

tents are waiting

The coastal town of Turbo, located on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Uraba, is full of tents And guarantees improvised where families try to reunite 350 dollars How much does it cost tourist package— a dubious term bordering on illegal accompaniment of migrants — which guarantees them a guide who will take them through the jungle to the border with Panama, known as the hill of “flags.”

Every morning, in all weather conditions, in the area that migrants call “ dining room” because they offer them there 1500 meals a dayHundreds of families wake up and dismantle their tents.

In one sleeps Luz del Carmen, alone 44 year old woman who collects it and dries it with his four children until seven in the morning.

They have been in Turbo for 16 days now and he hopes they will be able to leave soon, although he admits to EFE that he is still They didn’t raise enough money. buy a package.

However, they already have water, food, medicines And tents for jungle nights that can reach I walked for a whole week along narrow paths, climbing slippery hills and passing rivers that could rise at any moment and carry them away.

Travel Company He promised them that they would be able to pay half a package ($175 per person): “They say you pay half the package and stay in Akandi“until local guides do” took a ride” And take everyone who is on the shore I’m waiting, the mother explains.

Nest of accidents

One of Darien one of The World’s Most Dangerous Migration Routes because lack of infrastructure It is adapted for the mass passage of people and represents a scene of sliding on steep paths, falling into abysses, drowning in rivers or dangers from wild animals and insects.

The routes are partially controlled. ColombianHe Gulf Clanthe largest criminal group in the country, and once they infiltrate Panama, criminals and other groups subject migrants to robberies and even violations sexual massive.