**The Guna community’s struggle and resilience as they relocate from their ancestral island highlight the pressing impacts of climate change.**
**Indigenous Community Faces Relocation Amid Climate Crisis**
**Indigenous Community Faces Relocation Amid Climate Crisis**
**Gardi Sugdub Islanders Transition to New Homes Due to Rising Sea Levels**
As waves increasingly lap at the doors of homes on the island of Gardi Sugdub, the Guna community of Panama grapples with the painful decision to leave their historically rich home. Delfino Davies, who runs a small museum on the island, witnesses daily reminders of a once vibrant community being stripped of its life as families abandon the island to escape the perils of climate change. With rising sea levels predicted to render Gardi Sugdub uninhabitable by 2050, the government has declared an "imminent risk" for the island's residents.
As June 2024 approached, a mass exodus transitioned nearly 1,000 Guna to a newly constructed settlement, Isberyala, located on the mainland, leaving around 100 behind. While many praise the relocation as a potential solution for communities disproportionately affected by climate change, the move has caused divisions amongst the inhabitants. For some, such as Delfino, the connection to the ocean and traditions tied to the island are irreplaceable.
The Guna have lived on Gardi Sugdub and surrounding isles for over a century, carving out a life characterized by rich cultural traditions, notably their ornate "molas" clothing. With each rising tide, the once-bustling sounds of community life grow fainter, replaced by an eerie silence. "Before, you could hear children shouting… music everywhere, neighbors arguing," recalls Delfino, now surrounded by an emptier landscape.
On the darker shores of Gardi Sugdub, tuning into climate science has shown residents that the tides and storms have been increasingly threatening their way of life. Magdalena Martínez, a resident of the island impacted by the rising waters, noted how the higher tides increasingly flooded their living spaces. “I brought just my clothes and some kitchen utensils,” she lamented.
Now living in Isberyala, smiles emerge for many as they adapt to prefabricated homes equipped with amenities that were less common on Gardi Sugdub. While the new settlement offers a chance at a fresh start—complete with more space for growing vegetables—nostalgia and longing grip the heartstrings of those who left. “You miss your friends, the streets where you lived, being so close to the sea,” confesses Magdalena.
Yet, challenges accompany this new life; constructed with a $15 million investment from the Panamanian government, Isberyala has yet to realize its full potential, particularly with healthcare that remains underdeveloped. Residents are optimistic, however, as they engage in communal activities preserving their cultural roots—music, dance, and crafts continue to flourish, serving as a tether to their history.
Erica Bower from Human Rights Watch emphasizes the significance of Gardi Sugdub's story as a blueprint for other affected communities. “We need to learn from these early cases to understand what success even looks like,” she underscores. As the remaining residents of the island watch the ocean ebb and flow, the journey of the Guna people reflects not only the impact of rising sea levels but also the resilience of a vibrant culture adapting amid change.
As June 2024 approached, a mass exodus transitioned nearly 1,000 Guna to a newly constructed settlement, Isberyala, located on the mainland, leaving around 100 behind. While many praise the relocation as a potential solution for communities disproportionately affected by climate change, the move has caused divisions amongst the inhabitants. For some, such as Delfino, the connection to the ocean and traditions tied to the island are irreplaceable.
The Guna have lived on Gardi Sugdub and surrounding isles for over a century, carving out a life characterized by rich cultural traditions, notably their ornate "molas" clothing. With each rising tide, the once-bustling sounds of community life grow fainter, replaced by an eerie silence. "Before, you could hear children shouting… music everywhere, neighbors arguing," recalls Delfino, now surrounded by an emptier landscape.
On the darker shores of Gardi Sugdub, tuning into climate science has shown residents that the tides and storms have been increasingly threatening their way of life. Magdalena Martínez, a resident of the island impacted by the rising waters, noted how the higher tides increasingly flooded their living spaces. “I brought just my clothes and some kitchen utensils,” she lamented.
Now living in Isberyala, smiles emerge for many as they adapt to prefabricated homes equipped with amenities that were less common on Gardi Sugdub. While the new settlement offers a chance at a fresh start—complete with more space for growing vegetables—nostalgia and longing grip the heartstrings of those who left. “You miss your friends, the streets where you lived, being so close to the sea,” confesses Magdalena.
Yet, challenges accompany this new life; constructed with a $15 million investment from the Panamanian government, Isberyala has yet to realize its full potential, particularly with healthcare that remains underdeveloped. Residents are optimistic, however, as they engage in communal activities preserving their cultural roots—music, dance, and crafts continue to flourish, serving as a tether to their history.
Erica Bower from Human Rights Watch emphasizes the significance of Gardi Sugdub's story as a blueprint for other affected communities. “We need to learn from these early cases to understand what success even looks like,” she underscores. As the remaining residents of the island watch the ocean ebb and flow, the journey of the Guna people reflects not only the impact of rising sea levels but also the resilience of a vibrant culture adapting amid change.
