Panama Relocates Guna Families from Cartí Sugdub Island Due to Rising Sea Levels

On May 29, 2024, Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo inaugurated Isber Yala, a new urbanization in the Panamanian mountains. This initiative aims to relocate 268 Guna families from Cartí Sugdub island, which is threatened by rising sea levels resulting from climate change.

This relocation marks a significant step in addressing the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. It sets a precedent for other countries to take proactive measures to protect their citizens from the consequences of climate change.

Cartí Sugdub, a small island in the Guna Yala archipelago, is home to approximately 1,200 inhabitants who have lived in overcrowded conditions without basic services such as potable water and reliable electricity. The island, only 50 cm to 1 meter above sea level, is at risk of being inundated as a result of climate change.

The Panamanian government built Isber Yala with a state investment of $12.2 million on a 14-hectare plot of land belonging to the community. The urbanization consists of around 300 houses, each with two bedrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and laundry area, plus access to water and electricity.

Residents expressed their enthusiasm about the new homes. Vidalma Yánez, a 57-year-old resident, said, "Estoy emocionada. Las casas están bonitas, son chicas, pero muy confortables" (I'm excited. The houses are beautiful, they're small, but very comfortable). Marialis López, a 26-year-old mother of three, looks forward to decorating her new home and planting flowers, saying, "Me puede cambiar la vida aquí" (This can change my life here).

While the relocation brings new opportunities, it also presents challenges. The community will have to adapt to a new way of life, leaving behind their traditional fishing and tourism-based economy. However, they will have access to better living conditions, including running water and electricity.

President Cortizo emphasized the need for developed countries to take responsibility for global warming, warning that other Panamanian islands are also at risk of inundation. "The climate crisis that the world is experiencing... has forced us here in Panama to move (the population) from the island to this urban development of about 300 homes," he stated.

This relocation marks a significant step in addressing the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. The Guna families will begin moving to their new homes next week, if weather conditions allow for safe passage.

The Guna people, who live across Panama and neighboring Colombia, are mostly based in autonomous reservations on the San Blas Islands, a tropical archipelago with golden beaches and crystalline waters off Panama's northern Caribbean coast. Their relocation is part of a larger effort supported by the Panamanian government since 2010 to address the impacts of climate change on its indigenous peoples.

Panama's proactive measures to protect its citizens serve as a stark illustration of the urgent need for global action in the face of climate change. The relocation of the Guna families from Cartí Sugdub island is a demonstration of the resilience and adaptability of vulnerable communities in the face of environmental challenges.

Key Takeaways

• Panama relocates 268 Guna families from Cartí Sugdub island due to rising sea levels.
• New urbanization, Isber Yala, built on 14-hectare plot with 300 houses and basic services.
• Relocation marks a significant step in addressing climate change impacts on vulnerable communities.
• Guna families will adapt to new way of life, leaving behind traditional fishing and tourism-based economy.
• Panama's proactive measures serve as a model for global action on climate change.