Accompanied by his wife and two children, he began the journey to the United States passing through various places, including the dangerous Darien jungle.
“The truth is, I thought [the way] would be a little easier, but the crossing is tough. What one experiences on the road is quite heartbreaking,” the father said.
The region known as the Darien Gap is a swampy, jungle area between Central America and South America that spans the territories of Panama and Colombia. It is considered one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world, where travelers can take up to 10 days to cross it. According to Panamanian officials, so far in 2023, more than 400,000 people have crossed this region.
“I would give this advice to people: Don’t take that route, because it’s very risky. … Everything I walked through in Darien, the things you see, the mountains, is something beyond what you can explain,” Francisco said.
After his journey, he expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided at the migrant hostel: “Among everything that one has been experiencing, the truth is that the Migrant House is a relief.”
“The journey is very heartbreaking all along the way. My oldest son has a motor disability and doesn’t walk. I carried him on my back and the truth is that it’s quite hard. The part that has been a big relief is getting here,” he commented.