Panama
![Local moto-taxi drivers transport migrants near the Darien Gap.](https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/darien-gap-migrants-colombia-panama-02122024-1.jpg?w=519&h=259&crop=1)
There is no silver bullet for solving the humanitarian challenge on display in the Darien Gap, which thousands of migrants pass through daily. But any solution must involve creating sustainable economic opportunities for residents of border towns, so they are not drawn into the lucrative business of human smuggling.
![A drought is affecting the Panama Canal.](https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/panama-canal-drought-09222023-1.jpg?w=519&h=259&crop=1)
Despite being in the midst of its rainy season, Panama is experiencing one of its driest periods on record. The lack of rainfall means that the Panama Canal—a vital conduit for global maritime trade—is facing severe challenges, with the implications extending beyond Panama’s borders to affect international trade and global supply chains.