Guna Yala families to be relocated to safer housing in Panama

The Panamanian Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning (Miviot) will relocate more than 130 families from the Guna Yala indigenous region to safer areas in the Ailigandí district. The move follows flooding caused by the Playón Grande River.

Minister Jaime Jované stated that 25% of the necessary construction materials have already been moved to the site. The new housing project will be built on 26 hectares of land and is expected to provide the first homes by the end of 2026. The development will include essential infrastructure such as health centers, schools, playgrounds, and local government offices.

The project aims to respect indigenous culture and customs, with the community providing the labor. Unlike the rest of the country, land in the indigenous comarcas is managed under a special regime by local administrative authorities.