PODCAST:The Daily
TITLE:A Mother, a Daughter, a Deadly Journey: An Update
DATE:2023-12-28 00:00:00
URL:
MODEL:gpt-4-gizmo
In this episode of "The Daily," titled "A Mother, a Daughter, a Deadly Journey: An Update," host Michael Barbaro revisits the story of a mother and daughter, Alexandra and Sarah, who journeyed through the Darien Gap, a treacherous jungle terrain between Colombia and Panama. The episode is a follow-up to a previous story, providing an update on their situation since their harrowing journey.
Julie Turkewitz, Andes Bureau Chief, begins by describing the Darien Gap as a dangerous and inhospitable jungle with sheer mountains, intense mud, and deadly animals. Despite these conditions, the gap has seen a significant increase in migrants crossing it, rising from an average of under 11,000 people per year to nearly 250,000 in 2022. This surge is attributed to the economic fallout of the pandemic and the encouragement from traffickers on social media.
Julie and her colleague Ferre Ferre Goryos decided to cross the Darien Gap themselves to understand the migrants' experience. During their journey, they encountered a six-year-old Venezuelan girl, Sarah, and her temporary guardian, Ankel. Sarah's mother, Alexandra, had become injured and was separated from her daughter. Julie met Alexandra later in the journey and learned about her background as a lawyer in Venezuela and her motivation to travel to the U.S. for a better life.
The episode details the emotional and physical challenges faced by the migrants, including injuries, illnesses, and the danger of the journey itself. Julie witnesses the heart-wrenching reunion of Alexandra and Sarah at a government UN camp after being separated for three days.
In the update provided by Julie, Alexandra and Sarah's journey continued towards the U.S. However, a policy change by the Biden administration prompted Alexandra to apply for the Humanitarian Parole program, a legal option for Venezuelans to enter the U.S. safely. Despite having sponsors in the U.S., Alexandra's application is still pending, leaving them in a precarious situation.
Conversely, Ankel, who helped Sarah during the journey, successfully made it to the U.S. and is now working as a mechanic in Pennsylvania, supporting his family back home.
The episode concludes with an alarming statistic: approximately 500,000 people crossed the Darien Gap in the current year, highlighting the desperation and risks people are willing to take for a chance at a better life.
