The United Nations (UN) has expressed grave concerns over the record-breaking numbers of children migrating through Latin America and the Caribbean. A confluence of factors including gang violence, poverty, political instability, and climate change are driving this alarming trend.
According to the latest report from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), an astonishing 60,000 children crossed the perilous Darien Gap during just the first seven months of 2023, outpacing any other year on record.
Alarming Increase in Young Children Among Migrants
What adds to the concern is the increasingly younger age of these migrants. Children under the age of 11 now make up an overwhelming 91% of all the children traversing through key transit points in this region.
"The demographic profile of child migrants is rapidly changing. More and more children are embarking on this perilous journey at an alarmingly young age. „ Many are traveling alone and originate from diverse countries, even from continents as far away as Africa and Asia", noted Garry Conille, the Regional Director of UNICEF for Latin America and the Caribbean.
These migrant children's Health and Well-being are in grave danger. „Children who migrate encounter a variety of dangers, including illnesses, physical harm, being taken away from their family, and other sorts of abuse.
Even if they succeed in getting where they're going, Conille added, „their prospects for the future are frequently bleak." Globally, children make up around 13% of migrants, but in Latin America and the Caribbean this percentage soars to an astonishing 25%, making it the highest in the whole globe.
Reacting to the severe magnitude of the crisis, Conille emphasized the need for a stronger humanitarian response. He urged the international community and national governments to expand safe and regular migration pathways specifically for children and families. "The scale of the crisis necessitates more than piecemeal solutions; it demands a comprehensive strategy to protect the rights and the future of these children, regardless of their geographical or social origins," he added.
The Notoriously Risky Darién Gap Crossing
Navigating the Darien Gap is fraught with perils. This 66-mile, mountainous, roadless rainforest stretch that connects Colombia to Panama is one of the most hazardous migration routes on the planet. The journey is a crucial but dangerous passage for people hoping to ultimately reach the United States or Canada. The number of people making this harrowing trek skyrocketed to nearly 250,000 in 2022, which is nearly double the number from the year before, and twenty times the annual average recorded from 2010 to 2020.
This comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Biden administration, as the U.S. prepares for an upcoming presidential election. Despite a series of policy measures designed to curb migration, the Administration still faces an uphill battle.
The number of daily encounters at the U.S. southern border has seen a sharp rise recently. Specifically, in July, the number of families - one of the most vulnerable groups - being apprehended at the border nearly doubled in comparison to June, adding another layer of complexity and concern for the U.S. government.
The escalating crisis poses multi-faceted challenges that transcend national borders and political agendas. With children being the most vulnerable demographic, the urgent need for a concerted, comprehensive, and humanitarian response has never been clearer.
