AMERICA/COLOMBIA – Thousands of Venezuelans, Haitians and Ecuadorians face “the hell of Darién” in order to escape poverty and violence

AMERICA/COLOMBIA – Thousands of Venezuelans, Haitians and Ecuadorians face “the hell of Darién” in order to escape poverty and violence

Apartado (Agenzia Fides – “The migrant group, which brings together different nationalities, has shared all the vicissitudes that they have to face in order to reach Necocli, as well as the fears of crossing the so called ‘Darien hell’ due to situations such as illness, theft, violations and accidents, and the exploitation of those who see them a chance for great economic gains, regardless of institutional, local, or national control.”
The dramatic denunciation comes from the Bishops representing the Presidencies of the Episcopal Conferences of Venezuela and Colombia, who met on November 21 and 22 to address the migratory crisis of thousands of Venezuelans, Haitians and Ecuadorians, who cross the dangerous Darién jungle on their way to the United States. The meeting took place within the framework of the campaign “At the feet of the migrant”, organized annually by the diocese of Apartadó. This is the second meeting of the Episcopal Conferences of the two countries to address the migration crisis, after the one held in October 2022 in the city of San Cristóbal (see Fides, 18/10/2022; 14/10/2022; 29/9/2022).
According to information released by the Episcopal Conferences of both countries, the Colombian and Venezuelan bishops met some migrant families in the port of Necoclí, in the Urabá region of Antioquia, where thousands of migrants arrive before heading to the border with Panama. In the facilities of the Nuestra Señora del Carmen parish, they listened to their painful stories of uprooting, the reasons that led them to want to settle in Colombia or to decide to migrate to other countries. The Bishops also visited the port docks and distributed kits to those in transit. The action of the Catholic Church is permanent in the cities of Necoclí and Acandí through the daily work of the National Social Pastoral and that of the diocese of Apartadó, Caritas Colombiana, the Clamor Network, the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate and the Juanist Sisters.
The two-day agenda included a meeting with the Bishops, representatives of local authorities, and the Ombudsman’s Office. Also, there was a meeting with the Ombudsman’s Office, Migration Colombia. UNICEF, UNHCR. Migration Colombia, UNICEF. UNICEF, IOM. UNHCR. The topics included the identification of the latest wave migrants, families with children, adolescents, and the elderly; human Trafficking; sexual and labor Exploitation; unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents; and the Ombudsman’s Office, Migration Colombia, UNICEF, IOM, UNHCR, the Colombian Red Cross, Mercy Corps, and WORLD VISION. Recognizing that the problem is not unique to any one nation, the Colombian-Venezuelan Bishops have pledged to prioritize all initiatives and projects to assist migrants through Caritas Colombian and Venezuelan social ministry.
In the final statement issued at the end of the visit, the bishops point out that “the mixed migratory flow in Urabá Darién continues, and continues to generate continuous challenges for all the actors.” They recall that refugees and migrants, who were forced to flee their home countries by poverty and political conflict, have been forced to seek better living conditions and future opportunities.
The Bishops thank the various organizations that work in coordination to ensure the respect of the dignity and human rights of immigrants. They launched an appeal to ensure that “the human right to mobility is respected, foreigners welcome, all closed nationalisms are overcome, and that all xenophobic, contemptuous, and mistreatments of foreigners cease.” Immigrants must be supported by all means, especially institutional, to avoid human trafficking and other forms of violence and exploitation. They must be offered the opportunity to integrate as individuals and families. “All public agencies must pledge to promote safe routes that respect Human Rights.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 23/11/2022)

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