Panama

Panama

Founded

2010

Contact

+507 391 5171

Linkedin Instagram

Haga clic aquí para leer en español >

Panama is both a transit and host country for refugees, displaced people, and migrants in Latin America. While migration policies have changed across the Americas, hundreds of thousands of displaced people still need humanitarian assistance as they move across the country, particularly in the border areas of Darien and Chiriquí.

Panama hosts more than 205,000 displaced people, including more than 6,000 refugees and 34,000 asylum seekers. More than half of displaced people in need of protection are from Venezuela, and thousands come from other Central American countries.

HIAS has supported refugees and displaced people in Panama since 2010. HIAS Panama provides displaced people with protection services and mental health care, as well as works to end violence against women and girls.

43,900

people received services in 2024

Our Work

HIAS Panama helps refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants access dignified and sustainable livelihoods, improving their self-reliance. We collaborate with local communities and NGOs to foster the integration of refugees, creating safe spaces where refugees and members of the host community collaborate on community projects and address shared challenges.

Protect Displaced People
Learn more

Impact Story

In partnership with AECID and the Red Cross, HIAS Panama staff host a multi-services fair in Puerto Lara for local indigenous community members in February 2026 (Lindsay Kagalis/HIAS).

Empowering Women in Indigenous Host Communities

Between 2021 and 2024, hundreds of thousands of people crossed the Darien Gap. During that time, many indigenous communities greeted the migrants and asylum seekers, providing much needed relief. Even though these communities don’t have much, they stepped up to welcome people in transit.

In 2025, the U.S. government began implementing draconian immigration policies that restricted the right to asylum. At first, many asylum seekers decided to stay in Mexico or they began a “reverse migration” south back to their home countries. But by this year, very few people are crossing the Darien Gap or transiting near the indigenous host communities, such as in the Emberá Wounaan region in Panama.

Many organizations departed or decreased operations, leaving behind communities that still needed assistance. At HIAS, we knew we needed to stay and support these host communities that had stood in solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers when they needed help.

Read more

Partners

UNHCR/IOM Regional Platform for the Venezuela Situation Response (R4V)

UNICEF

AECID

The UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture

Banesco

REDLAC

HIAS’ services are free. If someone tries to charge you for services claiming they represent HIAS, please report it at our confidential email address: ethics@hias.org. HIAS has a zero-tolerance policy on fraud and corruption. 

For any other inquiries please email us at info@hias.org.