After trekking through the jungle that separates Colombia and Panama for five days, a Venezuelan mother in her thirties thought the dangerous part of their journey was over. With her husband and young daughter beside her, they were part of a group heading towards the end of the perilous Darien Crossing, warned of thieves and dangers like slipping in the treacherous terrain.
When suddenly about 15 armed men emerged from the Panamanian forest, they surrounded the group, separated the women, and subjected them to a horrific ordeal. The women were forced to undress and then repeatedly assaulted.
Despite initially resisting, the mother eventually succumbed to the violence. As she recounted, "When the second one came, I just... (left my body). I felt it would be better to dissociate."
Anonymously sharing her story, she is one of over 700 victims of extreme violence who have sought help at Doctors Without Borders’ Comprehensive Care Center (CAI) in Mexico City. The facility provides crucial psychological assessment and care for migrants who have experienced unimaginable violence in their home countries or during their journeys.
CAI focuses on offering primary healthcare to address physical injuries and collaborates with specialized hospitals to handle trauma, mobility issues, and neurological problems. Emphasizing the importance of family support, particularly for children exposed to extreme violence, CAI aids in healing wounds both physical and emotional.
With limited data on migrant violence, doctors note a concerning uptick in cases of "extreme violence," such as rape, violent kidnappings, and brutal physical assaults. The center not only provides medical care but also assists with accommodation, meals, immigration procedures, and safety precautions to ensure patients can focus on recovery.
Implementing remote and hybrid care methods, CAI aims to continue patient treatment beyond their stay, especially for those preparing to cross borders or seek employment. Concerns arise regarding increased violence due to stricter migration policies in the face of potential changes under a new administration.
Testimonies like that of the transgender Venezuelan man in treatment at CAI shed light on the harrowing experiences faced by migrants, underscoring the urgency of addressing escalating violence along migration routes. Human rights organizations stress the rise in violence against migrants, particularly affecting women and children, who are at higher risk of extreme brutality during their journeys.
The Venezuelan mother, still grappling with trauma, reflects on her ongoing struggle with panic attacks, unsure if she will ever fully discuss the traumatic incident with her husband. Amidst the pain and fear, she holds on to a sense of survival, hoping to one day find peace amid the turmoil that marks her journey.