‘For Panama, this measure puts at risk the significant progress made by all Panamanians to control the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as border security and the control of migratory flows,’ says a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry of the Panama.

‘Consequently, the National Government has determined to temporarily suspend the entry into the national territory by land, sea and river routes of all persons coming from the border with the Republic of Colombia, as of May 20th, 2021,’ the text concludes.

Panama’s reaction came in the midst of a migration crisis created in the Darien jungle by the entry of thousands of irregular migrants from Colombia.

This causes Panama a serious problem due to the massive number of those who arrive in its territory and for this it requested help from the Colombian authorities.

The Colombian government issued a resolution yesterday justifying the opening due to ‘the interest in advancing in the measures that will help the economic reactivation of our border areas and the strengthening of the integration process with neighboring countries.’

The resolution adds that Colombia offered to the four border countries ‘to maintain the joint work that allows adopting, in an expeditious manner, the necessary measures and protocols for a prompt return to full transit of people, goods and vehicles.’

The current migratory wave reached the figure of 11,370 irregular migrants in the first four months of 2021, while until yesterday the flow continued through the dangerous Darien Gap, as a waypoint in a trip whose final destination is the United States.

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