NRC in Panama

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) supports refugees and migrants in Panama with food, shelter and safe drinking water – as well as providing vital legal advice and protection from harm. Working closely with host communities is key to maintaining local goodwill and preventing community tension amid migration.

What’s happening in Panama? 

Panama is transit point and a destination for people fleeing crisis, although very few who apply receive official refugee status. While overall transit through the country has declined significantly over the past year, refugees and migrants continue to cross Panama in both direction – moving toward the northern border and reversing course south – as stricter protection and migration policies across the region force many to turn around.  

Panama is currently home to over 60,000 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Latin American nations including Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, El Salvador, and Cuba. While the country continues to serve as a key place of refuge, formal refugee recognition stays low, leaving many in socio-economic vulnerability.  

Overall displacement of refugees and migrants through the Darién Gap has declined following tighter regional border policies, shifting dynamics toward two-way movement as many individuals are now heading south in reverse transit. Facing continuous protection risks and limited access to formal integration, this population relies heavily on sustained humanitarian assistance and support for local host communities to maintain social cohesion.