It Could Happen Here CZM Rewind: The Green Hell: Migration Through the Darién Gap
Dec 26, 2025
In this insightful discussion, various migrant voices share their perilous journeys through the Darién Gap—one of the world’s most treacherous migration routes. They reveal the harrowing conditions they faced, including contaminated water and dangerous terrain. Personal testimonies illustrate why they left their homes, from political crises to the dream of better futures. The resilience and solidarity among migrants shine through as they navigate immense challenges, all while hoping for acceptance and opportunity in their new lands.
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Bodies As Constant Warnings
- James Stout recounts seeing a little girl's lifeless body and other remains near the Tuquesa River, underscoring how lethal the Darien crossing is.
- He describes migrants sleeping by the river where currents swept away children earlier that year, making the area traumatic and dangerous.
Why The Darien Is Uniquely Perilous
- The Darien Gap is both a jungle and a migration route that uniquely combines natural danger with criminal violence.
- Its reputation as the "Green Hell" or "Ruta del Muerte" reflects centuries of impenetrability and modern migration pressures.
Cameroonians Fleeing War And Loss
- A group from Cameroon explains fleeing Anglophone conflict, killings, and lack of jobs as reasons to risk the jungle.
- One migrant named Powers says he lost his parents and brothers and saw no future at home, so migration was the only option.