A group of migrants from different countries walk through the Darien Gap, as they continue their journey to the U.S. border, in Acandi, Colombia July 9, 2023. Official data shows 248,901 people crossed the dangerous stretch between January and July, surpassing the record high seen for all of 2022. The "dramatic" numbers show a need for joint efforts to address the root causes of forced displacement and irregular migration, the UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement. Migrants crossing the Darien Gap are mostly from Venezuela, while Haitians and Ecuadorians make up the next two largest groups. Crossings through the jungle are expected to surpass 400,000 this year, according to the UN, well up from nearly 250,000 in 2022.

---

Persons: Adri, Michele Klein Solomon, Ecuadorians, Elida Moreno, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, United Nations, UN, International Organization for Migration, Migrants, Thomson Locations: Darien, U.S, Acandi, Colombia, Panama, Venezuela