Several UN agencies called for increased international cooperation to stop the record number of migrants crossing the inhospitable Darien jungle, on the Panama-Colombia border, on their way to the United States.

In a joint statement, the UN agencies for Refugees (Acnur) and for Migrations (IOM) asked the governments for “a hemispheric response” to face the migratory wave that is crossing the Panamanian jungle, despite the dangers faced by the migrants.

“It is essential to join efforts both at the regional level and in the countries of origin to address the root causes of forced displacement and irregular migration,” said UNHCR and IOM.

“Greater solidarity, international cooperation and shared responsibility on the part of the international community are also required,” they added.

The note is published after the Panamanian government announced this week that nearly 249,000 migrants passed through the Darién jungle in the first seven months of the year, a record number that exceeds the records for all of 2022.

The natural border of the Darién, 266 kilometers long and 575,000 hectares in area, has become a corridor for migrants trying to reach the United States, from South America, through Central America.

Migrants make this journey despite being plagued with dangers such as wild animals, mighty rivers, and criminal organizations that rob them or demand payment to guide them on their route.

Some die on the way and others arrive injured, dehydrated, with severe allergic reactions or with complications during pregnancy or chronic illnesses.

UNHCR and IOM consider that there is “an urgent need” to expand regular pathways for refugees and migrants, in order to protect the lives and rights of people in vulnerable conditions.

“The perilous journey through the Darien jungle is not only a testament to the desperation and determination of those seeking a better life, but a grim reminder of the urgency of updating our immigration systems,” said Michele Klein Solomon, regional director of the OIM for Central America, North America and the Caribbean.

“Multiple interconnected factors, ranging from limited access to fundamental rights and essential services to the impact of violence and insecurity, continue to push people into situations of displacement,” added UNHCR Americas Director José Samaniego.