International
Number of migrants crossing the Darien reaches historic highs
February 10 |
The Colombian Ombudsman’s Office reported Friday that the number of migrants who have crossed the Darien Gap into Panama in search of North America has quadrupled, reaching historic highs.
According to the report, while in January 2022 the passage of 4,702 people had been reported, by the first month of 2023 this figure rose to 21,307 migrants, most of them Haitians, Ecuadorians, Venezuelans, Chinese and Indians.
In view of this situation, the Ombudsman, Carlos Camargo, called on the governments of Colombia and Panama to address the situation of migrants in order to reduce the risk of rights violations.
“It is urgent that the authorities implement actions to attend to this population group together with the transit and host communities, which means establishing medical care points, assistance for children and the elderly, as well as controls by the authorities so that migrants do not become victims of migrant smuggling and human trafficking networks, among other risks associated with migratory processes,” said Camargo.
The official made “a call to the Ministry of Transportation and the Superintendence of Transportation to intensify surveillance and controls on the mechanical condition and permits of the buses that are transporting migrants, and avoid situations such as the accident of a special transport bus in the Llorona Canyon, between the municipalities of Dabeiba and Mutatá, which was carrying 38 migrants”.
Camargo was referring to the controls on those who offer transportation services to migrants to take them to the Colombian town of Necoclí, the last step before reaching neighboring Acandí, Colombia, the entry point to the Darién Gap.
The nationalities that crossed this dangerous jungle corridor linking South America with Central America in 2022 were Venezuelans, with 150,327; Ecuadorians, 29,356; Haitians, 22,435; Cubans, 5,961; and Colombians, 5,064. Other persons of extra-continental and Caribbean origin accounted for a total of 247,284 migrants.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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