Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 9 May 2025

KEY FIGURES

• 97% decrease in migrants entering Panama through Darién from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025
• 238 of Bolivia’s 340 municipalities still under orange alert due to massive flooding
• 48K people estimated to be affected by flooding in Paraguay

REGIONAL: PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

The UN’s Issue-Based Coalition (IBC) on Human Mobility reported a sharp drop in irregular migration across the region in early 2025, attributing the trend to stricter border controls and shifting policies. Panama recorded just 2,831 entries through the Darién Gap from January to March—a 97 per cent decline from the same period in 2024—while Honduras saw an 89 per cent year-on-year drop with 14,270 entries. US border authorities registered 84,174 encounters with migrants at the Mexico-US border in Q1, its lowest in four years. As northbound movement slows, reverse flows are increasing, with thousands—mainly Venezuelans, Ecuadorians, and Colombians—heading south, often stranded and reassessing options. Many now seek national asylum or take maritime routes to bypass the Darién.

MEXICO: REFUGEES

Per UNHCR Mexico’s 2024 Annual Report, Mexico remained among the world’s top ten asylum destinations, with nearly 80,000 claims registered by the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR). Most applicants came from Honduras, Cuba, Haiti, El Salvador, and Venezuela. The report also noted COMAR’s institutional strengthening, including a 40 per cent increase in resolved cases and a refugee recognition rate above 60 per cent, along with advances in digital transformation. Although official figures for early 2025 remain pending, preliminary data suggest that asylum requests may have tripled following new US immigration policies and the closure of US asylum programs.

SOUTH AMERICA: FLOODS

COLOMBIA: Severe flooding has affected more than 17,000 people across 19 of the Meta department’s 29 municipalities, or about 65 per cent of the department. In Puerto Lleras alone, flash floods between 4 and 5 May affected 90 per cent of the municipality, affecting more than 8,300 people and requiring coordinated efforts by the Air Force, rescue teams, and disaster management agencies. However, barriers and limited national response have been reported. Nationwide, nearly 70,000 people have been affected by disasters in the past month alone.

BOLIVIA: The UN and humanitarian partners are supporting Bolivia’s flood response as 238 of the country’s 340 municipalities remain under orange alert, with historical rainfall expected to continue through May. River overflow risks remain high in the departments of Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, La Paz, Beni, and Pando. Stagnant water is raising health risks, especially for children and older people. WFP, FAO, UNDP, and UN Women continue targeted support, while the Bolivian Red Cross continues to respond in multiple departments.

PARAGUAY: The Government declared a state of emergency in late April due to floods affecting some 48,000 people. The National Emergency Secretariat (SEN) is leading response with support from the UN and humanitarian partners. Access remains limited in hard-hit areas such as Fuerte Olimpo, Bahía Negra, and Puerto Casado. Rural and Indigenous communities—especially women, children, older people, and people with disabilities—face significant challenges. Relief efforts are ongoing, while weather forecasts indicate dry conditions through mid-May.