David (Panama), September 1 (EFE). – The governments of Panama and Costa Rica decided this Friday to unite in the international community with “a single voice” to face the unprecedented Central American migration crisis, which affects them in a similar way because they are transit countries of a phenomenon, its causes are beyond their control.
“Both Costa Rica and Panama face similar challenges and there has been talk, among other things, of speaking with a single voice in the international community (…) to see how we can have a greater impact together,” said Panamanian Foreign Minister Janaina. Tewaney, then concluded a meeting between the foreign and security ministers of both countries.
Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister Arnoldo André also noted that both countries have made “joint efforts to jointly approach the international community and ask for this support based on the shared responsibility of nations.”
The migration crisis must be “managed better”.
The causes of migration, said André, “are known to everyone: the terrible living conditions. On the one hand in the countries of the south, especially in Venezuela due to the regime that prevails there, but also the tolerance that Colombia has towards the passage through “Darién”, the jungle on the border with Panama.
In addition, there is “organized crime and human trafficking, which also includes migrants from Africa and Asia who travel through our countries. With this in mind, we have explained to the international community that the migration issue must be handled better,” said the Chancellor.
“Migration flows require joint international action and international financing for shared responsibility. It is not fair or just that Panama and Costa Rica have to impose new debt to address a problem that is not the cause of (both countries),” emphasized André.
The Panamanian authorities assure that in recent years they have invested almost 70 million dollars in the care of migrants crossing the Darién.
The Costa Rican foreign minister stressed that Panama and Costa Rica are ready to provide humanitarian assistance to up to 400 migrants in transit per day, but “never 2,000, 3,000 or even 4,000” as recorded this year and last year.
Regarding Colombia, André pointed out that “the country sees the problem in the freedom of flows and we believe in the best administration.”
In a tone that has hardened in recent weeks, Panama accuses the countries of South America, especially Colombia, of turning their backs on the migration problem.
The meeting between senior officials from Panama and Costa Rica this Friday took place in the city of David, capital of the Panamanian province of Chiriquí, which borders Costa Rica and is 445 kilometers from the Panamanian capital.
Authorities from both countries met on a common strategy in the face of the relentless flow of irregular migrants, as more than 331,000 people, an unprecedented number, have arrived in Panama so far this year after crossing the Darien jungle en route to the United States had states. Mostly.
According to travellers’ accounts, the migrants, in many cases entire families with children and even older adults, face all sorts of dangers in the jungle, including assault and rape, and many die.
Leaders of the Costa Rican population of Paso Canoas, on the border with Panama, complain about the presence of migrants who are congregating there because they lack the money to continue their journey and have protested the temporary closure of the area, leading to The border has led to tensions. EFE
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