The Darien Gap, the only overland link between South and Central America, spans more than 60 miles of swamps, dense rainforest, rushing rivers, and rugged mountains. This extraordinary yet treacherous jungle is among the most dangerous migration routes in the world.
Acclaimed photographer Federico Rios travelled through the Darien Gap in 2022 and 2023 alongside migrants, capturing raw moments of exhaustion and fear, as we all glimpse of hope and relief.
Below is a preview of his journey. The full photo exhibition, organised by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) with support from the European Union, launches at the Geopolis Photojournalism Center in Brussels on 11 March and remains open until 27 April.
"The jungle is treacherous. We saw terrible things, many corpses along the way. We lost all our belongings and ran out of food. People slipped and fell, and some were raped, kidnapped, or robbed," says Jarelys, a Venezuelan mother of five who survived the crossing with her family, last October.
The Darien is a remote, roadless area covering both Panamanian and Colombian territory, and the only possible overland crossing between South and Central America. The Darien jungle is as remarkable as it is inhospitable and it is one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.
“302,203 individuals crossed the Darien Gap irregularly in 2024, making it the second largest flow of people on record. Recent changes indicate the flow may be about to reverse, with continuous vulnerabilities and needs for people trying to return to their country of origin. Throughout Central America, the level of violence and insecurity remains very high,” says Nicolas Govaert, who heads the European Union’s Humanitarian Aid for Central America and Mexico.
“Local communities and people on the move are severely impacted, with many manifesting signs of severe trauma, and reporting abuses including robbery, extortion, kidnapping, rape, forced labour and child recruitment, affectations as frequent and severe as in countries at war,” Nicolas adds.
People from all over the world have attempted to cross into Central America, hoping to escape conflict, poverty or persecution. They include an increasing number of unaccompanied and separated children, with 1,216 identified in the first quarter of 2024 - a surge of 124% over the previous year.
“What has impacted me the most is the hope and solidarity among migrants. When desperation pushed them to make the decision to migrate, it is hope that gives them the strength to take each step,” says photographer Federico Ríos, who spent days trekking the Darien Gap with migrants.
In 2024, the EU funded over €30 million of humanitarian aid in Central America and Mexico to support health services and protection projects for displaced people across the region, as well as to support families affected by violence in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
