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New Tide of Migrants Triggers Alarms in Panama

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A group of 720 illegal migrants are held Wednesday in Puerto Obaldia, Panama, near the Colombian border, by Panamanian authorities, while an outbreak of African malaria among them would keep the migrants isolated and quarantined.
 
Panama's Security Minister, Jonattan Del Rosario, told the daily La Estrella that the illegals, from various nationalities, entered the country last weekend, and concentrated them in the small community accessible only by sea or air.
 
He confirmed at least six cases of malaria were detected, as well as eight pregnant women, who receive the corresponding medical attention, and more than five tons of food, water and medicine were distributed among the migrants.
 
The Minister stated that in communication with his Colombian counterpart he knew that there is no massive flow from the neighboring country until Tuesday while journalistic sources from that nation pointed out that the large group concentrated on one side of the border, in Capurgana, to forward together.
 
'We have to be clear that these movements are constantly developing', said the Minister, who insisted that in Obaldia Port the emergency is attended by personnel from the Panamanian services of migration, health, civil protection and border.
 
Although in his first statements to the newspaper El Siglo, Del Rosario said that after strict verifications the illegals are required to leave the country, he told La Estrella that next week he will hold a meeting with Costa Rican authorities to discuss this new tide, however, did not specify the agenda.
 
In a video released here by the media, several of the illegals expressed their desire to continue their route to join the Central American caravan moving toward the United States, and the Panamanian Minister ratified that voluntary departure or deportation are the options for newcomers.
 
Obaldia Port is located within the indigenous region Guna Yala and authorities of its General Congress reacted to the presence of illegals in their territory because they endanger their neighboring communities' health, apart from devastating crops for self-consumption.
 
Epidemiologist Isaias Cedeño indicated the six cases of malaria detected were controlled, so far 'we can not speak of a health alert' and clarified that in that region infections are detected every year, but the most lethal virus was removed, however, said that migrants became ill before arriving. / PL