The Endless Vulnerability of Migrant Children In-Transit across the Dari én Gap
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2023 Jul 24:tpmd220765. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0765. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMany people from poverty-stricken countries are migrating across South and Central America to reach the México-United States border, a movement exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Migrant people who begin their northbound journey in South America must transit across a significant geographic bottleneck, the Darién Gap, a mountainous rainforest region between Colombia and Panama. Most migrant people crossing this region originate from Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela. Other people reach the shores of South American countries from west and central Africa or central and southeastern Asia and continue to the Darién Gap. Poverty and violence drive families with children to flee their homes and endure incalculable risks in their path. Children traveling with their families or as unaccompanied minors across the Darién Gap are exposed to life-threatening situations and human rights violations, including abuse, exploitation, malnourishment, and limited access to medical care. In addition to experiencing untreated medical illnesses, children experience mental health disorders during migration and after they reach their destination as a result of victimization and adverse traumatic experiences. Therefore, providing migrants, especially children, with rapid medical screenings and mental health support when they arrive at their destination is critical to reduce health inequities. Furthermor...
Source: Am J Trop Med Hyg - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Laura Naranjo Yesenia Williams Jackelyne Levy Rosela Obando Jos é A González M ónica Pachar Roderick Chen Carlos Franco-Paredes Nelson Agudelo Higuita Andr és Henao-Martínez Yamilka Diaz Jos é A Suárez Source Type: research
More News: African Health | Child Abuse | Children | Colombia Health | COVID-19 | Cuba Health | Haiti Health | Infectious Diseases | Men | Panama Health | Pandemics | USA Health | Venezuela Health