Panama is a small country, but it has historical significance as a strategic migration point between South and North America.

The San Vincente Migration Reception Centre in Meteti, southern Panama, is one of the first stops where migrants arrive upon entering the Panama border. The San Vincente Centre receives the migratory populations in most need of protection and humanitarian assistance for its proximity to the Darién Gap.

The Darién Gap is a geographic region between Panama and Colombia, made of hundreds of kilometres of dense, mountainous jungle and swamp, with conditions virtually untouchable by humans. In 2021, more than 120,000 people, desperate to escape conflict and seek asylum in North America, made this cross-border journey, often on foot and in constant exposure to trafficking by organised crime groups, sexual violence and extortion.

While most of the migrant population were Haitian or Venezuelan nationals, others from Cuba and other African and Asian countries were among this migrant group.

To scale up the San Vincente Centre’s reception capacity, UNHCR donated 48 RHUs to accommodate the arriving populations in need of protection, health, and shelter services until they continue their journey to their ultimate destination: the United States.

Migrant Wicile Mesidor Dareus, 54, sits on a camp bed in the Vicente Migration Reception Centre, one of the first stops after migrants cross the inhospitable jungle of the Darien Gap into southern Panama.

The San Vicente Migration Reception Centre in Meteti, southern Panama, one of the first stops after migrants cross the inhospitable jungle of the Darien Gap.

Nadege Decius (centre) sits on a camp bed at the San Vicente Migration Reception Centre in Meteti, southern Panama, with other migrants with whom she crossed the jungle from Colombia.