An unseen crisis is unfolding in the Darién jungle. Beneath the dense foliage of this tropical forest that links Colombia and Panama, hundreds of thousands of people are on the move – risking their lives in search of safety and opportunity.
This journey is one of the most dangerous in the world. Countless risks await those who attempt it. And yet hundreds of thousands of people do it every year. A new exhibit of photographs and stories, produced by the IFRC, with funding from the European Union, tells their story — and the story of the people who provide life-saving support to them.
Echoes from the jungle features photos taken by photojournalist Federico Rios, who journeyed through Darién in 2022 and 2023 on assignment for the New York Times, as well as photos taken by IFRC and Red Cross staff in the region. Here is a selection of photos from the exhibit and the stories behind them.
Scenes like this one – large groups of people caught in what looks like a human traffic jam – are common at crossing points such as the one at Banderas Hill, near the border between Colombia and Panama.
Photo: Federico Rios
To leave everything behind and walk into the jungle
The Darién is a remote, roadless area covering both Panamanian and Colombian territory, which is the only possible overland crossing between South and Central America. Spanning more than 60 miles of swamp, dense rainforest, fast-flowing rivers and mountains, the Darién jungle is as remarkable as it is inhospitable.
In this photo, a group of people from Haiti walk through the streets of Bajo Chiquito, Panama – one of the first towns people reach after crossing the Darién.
Photo: Federico Rios
Why cross the Darién jungle?
Why would someone choose to attempt such a perilous journey? Economic collapse, political instability, intense violence and conflict, persecution, and limited legal pathways can all contribute to the decision. And often, compounding crises and challenges will force people to move.
With each step, this woman carrying a child on her back, sinks deeper into the mud, and her struggle to complete the trek becomes increasingly daunting.
Photo: Federico Rios
Dangers in the heart of the jungle
The harsh reality of the Darién jungle unfolds as we witness a woman, burdened with the weight of her small child, navigating through its unforgiving terrain (see photo above). The relentless heat and stifling humidity only add to the exhaustion felt by the women, children and men on the move.
Counting every drop
Crossing the Darién is not just a matter of hours. It can take days or even weeks depending on the time of the year. Access to food and water becomes increasingly scarce, especially for people travelling with minimal supplies. Unable to rely on water from streams and rivers due to contamination, they must carry their own supplies to sustain themselves on their journey.
In this image taken in the heart of the jungle, a group of migrants share the last drops of water from a plastic gallon container.
Photo: Federico Rios
Facing diverse threats
The Darién jungle is full of threats, some of which are deadly. Surging river crossings, poisonous snakes, paths marked only by the footsteps of those who were there before, and weather that can turn at any moment.
Then there are the human threats – robbery, smuggling, human trafficking, physical and sexual violence – that are sadly all too common. Between 2018 and 2023, 258 people died in the Darién.
Jheymmi Bastidas tends to her stepdaughter Hamleisy's injured foot, offering comfort and care after several days of walking. With a look of pain on her face, Hamleisy is supported by her sisters, Adriannys and Hamleisky, who stand by her side.
Photo: Federico Rios
People crossing the jungle are exposed to insect bites, infections, diarrhoea, dehydration, fractures, or skin injuries with no access to first aid before reaching the closest town. During the most difficult parts of their journey, their only consolation is to trust and support each other.
Rainfall and rising rivers
The Darién is characterized by numerous rivers, many of which flow through dense rainforest and mountainous terrain. However, they pose significant challenges to people attempting to cross them, especially during periods of heavy and frequent rainfall between May and December. As water levels rise rapidly and the rivers become more powerful, drowning poses a significant risk.
A group of migrants travers a river as they grip a cable that guides them and helps keep them on track despite the rushing current.
Photo: Federico Rios
At the edge of the jungle, worlds meet
While many of the people who traverse this jungle are from South America, this journey is also used by people from around the world. In recent years, a growing number of migrants have arrived from far further afield including China, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Cameroon and Angola. For these people, the existing dangers of the Darién are heightened by cultural and linguistic barriers.
Unprecedented numbers
The scale of migration through the Darién in recent decades is unprecedented. In a region with a relatively low population density, the passage of more than 500,000 people from different parts of the world in 2023 has brought additional challenges to local communities: this number is more than seven times the resident population.
Because the Darién is a remote and protected area, basic resources and infrastructure such as clean water and waste collection services are scarce, heightening the environmental impact on the region as both local communities and groups of migrants face these challenges on a daily basis.
Who are the people crossing the Darién and who are the people there to help?
The reasons for travelling through this jungle are as varied as the people themselves – whether travelling alone, with family or with people they meet along the way. Here are some of their stories.
Zidane and his partner travelled hundreds of miles on mules they found along the way. Every village they passed through served as a reminder of the dangers of the jungle, where people warned them of death and the grim reality that not everyone completes the journey alive.
Photo: Ramón Lepage/IFRC
Zidane's many talents
Colombian by origin, Zidane is a multifaceted individual – a cultural manager, short
film producer, Red Bull competitor, freestyler, rapper, hairdresser, and baker. Despite
his vibrant artistic pursuits, he found himself compelled to migrate.
"We left my country because things were not going well there, there was no money,
there was nothing. My [rapper] foundation had completed its cycle and I thought it
was a good idea to leave, but since I didn't have a passport, we decided to travel
through the Darién jungle."
Navil did not want to leave his community but was forced to. He is catholic and lived in an area of India where Christians are a persecuted minority. He was beaten, ridiculed and on several occasions threatened with death if he did not give up his faith. Leaving became the only road to safety.
Photo: Ramón Lepage/IFRC
Navil’s passport
Navil* was asked what the most precious object he always carried with him was. Heanswered immediately: his passport. Without it he would not have been able to leave India, his country of origin, to attempt to reach the United States.
*Name changed on request
On Karen's back, there is a tattoo of a heart. Inside it, a baby rests serenely in a woman'sarms. Karen explains that this image depicts herself with her son Dylan, who inspired her to migrate to the United States.
Photo: Ramón Lepage/IFRC
Karen's reason for not giving up
Karen’s son Dylan is her motivation for everything she does in life, her reason for not giving up during difficult times and especially now, when she has faced moments of danger and pain crossing through the jungle.
"Crossing the Darién is not easy. I don't recommend it to anyone. The danger there is not the animals, it's facing people who hurt you, who steal from you, who abuse both your body and the little you carry with you.”
Since 2018, they have helped people on the move with psychosocial support, health care, access to water, and information on the migratory route. In Colombia, Red Cross teams provide information about the journey as well as health and protection services.
Photo: Hermanos Corallo
A symbol of hope
For the people travelling through the Darién, the Red Cross is a symbol of hope on their difficult journey. In Panama, the IFRC and the Panamanian Red Cross, with support from the European Union, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and other partners, have been responding to the needs of migrants crossing the Darién for several years.
What’s been provided so far: The Red Cross response in numbers
Our support during one of those years, 2023, offers a snapshot of the enormous needs and the very concrete support offered by Red Cross staff and volunteers. In that year, Red Cross provided migrants with more than 29.7 million litres of safe water, over 20,000 basic health care consultations, 2,000 first-aid services, and more than 24,500 maternal and child care services.
They also facilitated more than 33,000 international calls so migrants could communicate with their loved ones. Staff and volunteers also provide information, an internet connection to allow contact with family members, and referrals to specialized services.
Safe, welcoming and neutral spaces
Once through the jungle, people on the move can access support in camps, where they receive protection services and trusted information so they continue their journey as safely as possible. People can also find assistance at Humanitarian Service Points, run by the Panamanian Red Cross with support from the IFRC, the European Union, and other partners.