Venezuela, once a prosperous country known for hosting migrants from around the world who sought social and economic opportunities, is now the country with the worst migration crisis in the western hemisphere. In the last decade, millions of Venezuelans have been forced to flee the country. Most migrants seek to escape hyperinflation, food and medicine shortages, violence, as well as on-going political unrest and persecution. The daily number of migrants has increased significantly. The United Nations states that there are over 4 million Venezuelans living abroad to date; one million were reported to have left since November 2018. It is projected that by the end of 2019 there will be around 5.3 million displaced Venezuelans, according to the Associated Press. Furthermore, a report conducted by the Organization of American States (OAS), states that by the year 2020 the projection of displaced Venezuelans will increase around 7.5 to 8.2 millions.
It began mostly with migrant men fleeing the country searching for jobs over the border to provide for their families that remained in Venezuela. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in women and children leaving the country, especially by crossing the border on foot (known as Los Caminantes). The Caminantes, the walkers, often walk for miles and days in hopes of finding refugee camps along the way as pit stops to aid with food and shelter. Their journey could take them to towns in Colombia just across the border or as far as towns in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Depending on their destination, most of them walk under severe weather conditions, ranging from the frigid cold temperatures at The Paramo de Berlín and The Andes to the tropical heat. The Paramo de Berlin, where temperatures can dip to 10 degrees below freezing, has claimed several lives of Venezuelan walkers.
It began mostly with migrant men fleeing the country searching for jobs over the border to provide for their families that remained in Venezuela. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in women and children leaving the country, especially by crossing the border on foot (known as Los Caminantes). The Caminantes, the walkers, often walk for miles and days in hopes of finding refugee camps along the way as pit stops to aid with food and shelter. Their journey could take them to towns in Colombia just across the border or as far as towns in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Depending on their destination, most of them walk under severe weather conditions, ranging from the frigid cold temperatures at The Paramo de Berlín and The Andes to the tropical heat. The Paramo de Berlin, where temperatures can dip to 10 degrees below freezing, has claimed several lives of Venezuelan walkers.
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Source: Human Rights Watch
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After reaching their destination, they encounter countless challenges that come with arriving to unknown lands without resources or legal status. They are most vulnerable to experiencing discrimination, labor exploitation, diseases, sexual exploitation, violence and xenophobia from communities in host countries. This is a direct consequence of migrants lacking legal documentation which limits their access to basic rights. According to a report by the United Nations, the number of Venezuelans who pursue refugee status in the Americas has increased by 8,000 percent since 2014.
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Source: Al Jazeera
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Most who have fled the country have remained in neighboring countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. As of June 2019, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil and Argentina host over 100,000 migrants. Peru hosts 768,000, and Colombia hosts the largest number of migrants at 1.3 million, reported the UN. However, as of June 2018, 72,000 Venezuelan asylum seekers are in the United States and as many as 150,000 Venezuelan migrants would qualify for Temporary Protection Status (TPS), per the American National Bar Association.
Host countries struggle to mitigate the rising social and humanitarian strain caused by the increasing influx of Venezuelans. As reported by The Associated Press, provinces in Brazil and Peru have declared a state of emergency as tension between locals and migrants has resulted in violence. Hence, several countries along with the U.N. human rights agency has proposed to raise millions of dollars to aid the humanitarian crisis troubling the hemisphere, as well as implementing health stations at the Colombia-Venezuela border and other crucial locations across Latin America. Along the Venezuelan borders with Colombia and Brazil, the United Nations has set up shelters in the towns receiving the highest influx of migrants per day. They are referred to as Integrated Assistance Centers which serve as a temporary lifeline; and in many cases also provide psychological counseling, legal advice, Red Cross clinic services, and a cafeteria.
Moreover, countries in the western hemisphere have congregated to address the crisis along with its challenges and to find solutions to aid Venezuelans migrants and refugees. On July 4 and July 5, 2019, government officials from 14 Latin American and Caribbean countries, along with UN agencies and other organizations, gathered in Argentina during the IV International Technical Meeting of the Quito Process. They discussed and adopted the Road Map of the Buenos Aires Chapter to facilitate the integration of Venezuelan migrants and refugees in the region. More specifically, the Road Map of the Buenos Aires Chapter encompasses precise actions in relation to human trafficking, accessibility to health care, recognition of academic qualifications, implementation of information and assistance centers, orientation and development platforms regarding human capital, as well as the strengthening of national systems for refugee status determination.
Yet as many Venezuelans lack proper and legal documentation when traveling to neighboring countries, some have acquired policies which either hinder or facilitate the possibility for Venezuelan migrants to enter the country legally or access basic services and resources. On one hand, the United States, Canada, Spain, and Brazil recognized Guaidó’s extension request and have granted a 5-year validity extension for Venezuelan passports past their printed expiration date. Additionally, Colombia and Argentina have accepted passports for two years since expiration date along with the possibility to apply and obtain residency and a work permit.
On the other hand, some countries have resorted to more restrictive policies as a way to filter and control the mass influx of Venezuelan migrants. Chile, Peru, Ecuador and some caribbean islands have adopted changes to the rules and prerequisites to enter the country legally. Chile requires passports and residency visa to enter the country. Consequently, Venezuelan migrants have been camping out of the Chilean consulate in the Peruvian side of the border, while others have resorted to walking through a minefield desert in hopes of finding shelter and assistance. Whereas Peru, Ecuador, and some caribbean islands require a humanitarian visa along with criminal records to enter the country.
Moreover, countries in the western hemisphere have congregated to address the crisis along with its challenges and to find solutions to aid Venezuelans migrants and refugees. On July 4 and July 5, 2019, government officials from 14 Latin American and Caribbean countries, along with UN agencies and other organizations, gathered in Argentina during the IV International Technical Meeting of the Quito Process. They discussed and adopted the Road Map of the Buenos Aires Chapter to facilitate the integration of Venezuelan migrants and refugees in the region. More specifically, the Road Map of the Buenos Aires Chapter encompasses precise actions in relation to human trafficking, accessibility to health care, recognition of academic qualifications, implementation of information and assistance centers, orientation and development platforms regarding human capital, as well as the strengthening of national systems for refugee status determination.
Yet as many Venezuelans lack proper and legal documentation when traveling to neighboring countries, some have acquired policies which either hinder or facilitate the possibility for Venezuelan migrants to enter the country legally or access basic services and resources. On one hand, the United States, Canada, Spain, and Brazil recognized Guaidó’s extension request and have granted a 5-year validity extension for Venezuelan passports past their printed expiration date. Additionally, Colombia and Argentina have accepted passports for two years since expiration date along with the possibility to apply and obtain residency and a work permit.
On the other hand, some countries have resorted to more restrictive policies as a way to filter and control the mass influx of Venezuelan migrants. Chile, Peru, Ecuador and some caribbean islands have adopted changes to the rules and prerequisites to enter the country legally. Chile requires passports and residency visa to enter the country. Consequently, Venezuelan migrants have been camping out of the Chilean consulate in the Peruvian side of the border, while others have resorted to walking through a minefield desert in hopes of finding shelter and assistance. Whereas Peru, Ecuador, and some caribbean islands require a humanitarian visa along with criminal records to enter the country.
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Source: Al Jazeera
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