HIAS & Médecins du Monde: Protection and health for displaced people
Information
Forced displacement across Latin America and the Caribbean has reached historic levels in recent years, with millions risking their lives on dangerous migration routes. The Darién jungle between South and Central America is one of the most perilous. Those who undertake this treacherous journey face extreme conditions, violence, extortion, and exploitation. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence (GBV), trafficking, and sexual abuse.
HIAS and Médecins du Monde, with the support of the European Union, work together through Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica, providing GBV prevention and response, primary and mental health care, and sexual and reproductive health services in key migration hotspots.
A rapidly changing context: Crossings through the Darién have surged recently, from around 130,000 people in 2021 to over 300,000 in 2024, with a record 500,000 individuals in 2023. While stricter border and migration policies led to a steady decline in the past year, thousands continue to embark on this dangerous journey in search of safety and a better future. This situation remains a humanitarian crisis, shaped by limited response capacity and coordination, and a lack of political will.
Through powerful imagery and testimonies collected by French photographer and sociologist Nadège Mazars, the exhibition explores the challenges faced by those forced into displacement without safeguards and the uncertainty of an unpredictable future, offering a powerful narrative of resilience and survival.
