this is the darian gap
one of the most dangerous and remote
forests in the world
on the border between colombia and
panama
here you'll find glimpses of paradise
amongst
the wilderness on the colombian side the
region has been controlled by guerrilla
and paramilitary groups
who profit from extortion smuggling and
drug trafficking
recently this border has seen another
type of crisis
thousands of migrants from all over the
world awaiting their chance to cross the
jungle
they come from haiti venezuela cuba but
also many countries of africa
are from cuba they're trying to get to
the us
like then thousands of migrants pass
through here every year
despite the risks it entails
that's how many of these immigrants feel
it's impossible to know how many cross
each year
or how many die on root now with the
pandemic the border between colombia and
panama is closed
there's no sign of humanitarian or state
organizations here
so the future of these people completely
depends on those who can cash
in by helping them cross illegally
for at least 15 years migrants have been
departing from this beach
onto the darien where they cross the
border to panama
they don't have access to a room to
water
to a toilet here
travel from all over south america to
these two cities
from here it's a two to seven hour boat
ride
and then up to 20 days of trekking
through dense jungle
towards north america
so here at the other side of the gulf is
where the
migrants start their journey onto the
darien
and they come in a tourist boat which is
the same that we came in
but they are charged three times the
price
and then the police is there and there
are locals that host them
through the jungle in the jungle
they're led by coyotes like this man
with the red cap
he's telling them when to start the
journey
these two young men on motorbike shout
at them to hurry up
and this is the last sort of
piece of civilization that the
immigrants are going to see for
at least a week now they're going to the
darian jungle
the coyotes seem to be controlled by the
so-called clan del golfo one of the most
powerful armed groups in the country
with around 3 000 soldiers
but the army captain tells me illegal
migration isn't the only thing
they're keeping taps on
just a few days before we met they
rescued a dinghy with people on board
including children
in cemeteries like this one it is
increasingly common to see graves of
those who drowned
while trying to cross the darien
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estate
this journey can be deadly but hundreds
of people embark on it
every day they feel that the risk is
worth it
vit means they might reach the us and
start a new life
you