Darien Gap

 

There’s this area of inhabitable land shared between Panama to the North/North-West and Columbia to the South/South-East, called the Darien Gap. It is called so because this area is the only uncivilised area in the whole area of the continents of North and South America.

An interesting fact about the Darien Gap is that at one time, almost one fifth of the economy of Scotland was “invested” for establishing a Scottish Colony on this area. Since that particular project did not succeed and it led to irreparable loss to the Scottish nation, it is safe to say that the Darien Gap is responsible for Scotland being a part of UK even today.

This area, or gap, has in recent decades been a part of the illegal travel to USA through Latin America. Since the last about 10 years, travel through Darien Gap had increased manifold.

This passage involved lots of exposure to illegal paramilitary, drug traders, extortionists and even the general tribal population there was involved in exploiting the travellers or passengers economically. There were reports of people being killed, going missing and even facing torture in this area, including sexual exploitation. Getting injured is a death sentence. Getting sick is a death sentence. Sometimes being left behind one’s group too is a death sentence.

Recently, the new regime in the US has been strict on illegal migration into the US. Coupled with cooperation from Panamanian Authorities, this has led to stoppage of illegal migration over this route.

It means that people will avoid suffering on this route and beyond. Many won’t have to face shattered dreams once they reach the US, if they reach there.

 

It also makes you wonder, are there other such areas? Other such gaps? More such suffering?