Hundreds of migrants have reportedly been sexually assaulted while traversing Panama’s deadly Darien Gap jungle en route to the southern US border – including some children abused in so-called “rape camps.”
Doctors Without Borders – a non-profit organization also known as Médecins Sans Frontières – said in a new report that its members treated nearly 400 victims of sexual assault in the Darien Gap in 2023 alone, according to the Borders Report.
Much of the danger comes from bands of armed robbers who roam the wilderness, kidnapping, robbing and raping those who try to pass through, the report said.
“They beat me on my leg with a bat, because we who have no money are beaten,” said one Venezuelan victim, according to the group.
“Those who say they have no money, but when checked they have money, are more injured,” continued the victim.
New reports say migrants are often sexually assaulted at the Darien Gap, a particularly dangerous part of their long journey north. AP The Darien Gap is a 60-mile-long forest teeming with bandits, wild animals and dangerous rivers. AFP via Getty Images
“They said, ‘Oh yes, he has money,’ and they raped them. I saw many people being raped. I saw them left naked and beaten. One, two, or three of them catch you and rape you, and then the next one comes and rapes you again, and if you scream, they beat you.”
The Darien Gorge has long been considered the most dangerous part of the extremely dangerous journey from South America to the US border.
The rugged 60-mile stretch of jungle that connects Colombia to Central America often takes about six days to cross – and its thick foliage is a sly hideout for bandits, wild animals and raging rivers that threaten to kill migrants long before they can reach the US to apply for asylum. .
Doctors Without Borders says it has treated more than 400 victims of sexual assault this year. AFP via Getty Images Some of the victims were children, the group said. AFP via Getty Images
Drug runners use the same routes to distribute narcotics, and armed gangs patrol the lawless jungle borders.
Doctors Without Borders has called on regional governments to increase law enforcement presence to prevent sexual violence against migrants.
In October alone, the group helped 107 victims of sexual abuse – including 59 in one week, the Border Report said.
“Sexual violence has consequences for human physical and psychological health, such as sexually transmitted infections that can affect women’s fertility if not treated in time,” said Carmenza Gálvez, the group’s medical coordinator.
“It can expose them to HIV infection, with the consequent risk of infecting others. It can cause physical trauma, unwanted pregnancy, social isolation, feelings of guilt, recurring thoughts about the event, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, insomnia, and the risk of substance abuse, and it increases the risk of future sexual violence ,” he continued.
Migrants face many dangers on their journey through this lawless land, but people are the main threat. AFP via Getty Images
Men who try to help women victims are often punished accordingly.
“Some young men were also beaten and thrown to the ground for trying to defend the woman,” said the Venezuelan woman. “They killed a boy in front of us with a shot to the forehead.”
“They say it’s their land, you have to respect it, and anyone who goes through there has to pay,” he continued. “And if you pay or don’t pay, they still do it. They will abuse anyone they want. They have also raped men.”
“Rape tents” were set up for that purpose, the group said.
Mayor Adams traveled to Central and South America last month to discourage people from coming north, but it seems his trip did not convince many immigrants. Carlos Ortega/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Some of the victims are children — the organization says it recently helped three rape victims who were just 11, 12 and 16 years old.
Often crimes go unreported because the victims do not want anything to slow their journey north and fear the authorities in the countries they are passing through.
Despite efforts to slow the flood of migrants passing through the dangerous territory — including a trip to Central and South America by New York Mayor Eric Adams last month — asylum seekers continue to flow through, the Border Report said.
The toll for such an endeavor is high.
The organization has provided 51,500 medical consultations, 2,400 mental health consultations, treated 17,400 wounds and dealt with 397 cases of sexual violence so far in 2023, according to the report.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
