Venezuela crisis spills into region
Thousands of Venezuelans are crossing the borders daily into neighbouring countries in search of safety. Displaced by scarcity of food and medicines, but also because of violence and persecution, the growing numbers of Venezuelans fleeing their country are putting massive pressure on the region.
Over 4 million Venezuelans have fled to find safety in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Aruba, Curacao and Spain over the past 4 years. Neighbouring countries are overwhelmed and overstretched by the influx of Venezuelans.
"Neighbouring countries like Colombia, Ecuador and Panama are stretched to capacity by the sheer number of families arriving in the past months.
Authorities tell us they need the international cooperation to respond to the situation," said Christian Visnes, country director for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Colombia. "International community and governments in the region must step up their efforts immediately to provide much-needed protection and humanitarian assistance".
Nazareth, mother of 2 children, fled Venezuela. She decided to flee from the country because of lack of food and extreme levels of violence. "My children did not attend the school in Venezuela due to constant riots and violence," she told NRC. Additionally, Nazareth was recently treated at the hospital for chronic malnutrition. "I was starving. My two children were hungry too," she said.
Although displaced Venezuelans are making it across the border, they face humanitarian needs in neighbouring countries. A comprehensive and rapid response to food, education, documentation and health needs will be vital throughout the region. In addition, the access to refugee status for Venezuelans in neighbouring countries is still uncertain.
"In Colombia, many Venezuelans are arriving to conflict areas and face serious protection risks such as forced recruitment, sexual exploitation and abuse, disappearances, threats and killings. They need protection now," urged Visnes.
Venezuela is facing the worst economic crisis in its history leading to an all -time high unemployment and scarcity of basic needs and services. In addition, the country is experiencing growing crime and violence. The murder rate ten is times the global average in 2017 - 89 deaths per 100,000 people, ranking as the most violent non-conflict country in the world.
Facts:
· There has been a 2,000 per cent increase in the number of Venezuelans seeking asylum worldwide since 2014, according to UNHCR.
· The number of asylum applications by Venezuelans has more than doubled in the past year.
· ln 2016, 27,000 Venezuelan asylum seekers were registered worldwide. In 2017, this increased to more than 52,000 applications.
· NRC is one of the few humanitarian actors working on both sides of the Colombian-Venezuelan border, as well in Panama and Ecuador.
· NRC has a long-standing presence in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Panamá, where it provides emergency assistance, legal services and education to the affected population.
· NRC projects provided assistance to over 4,000 Venezuelans and Colombian returnees from Venezuela in 2017 and will scale up the response in 2018.
· NRC is requesting an immediate 2.5 million USD in additional funds for scaling up activities and reach, particularly on the border areas between Colombia and Venezuela, but also elsewhere in Colombia and the region, including Panama and Ecuador 12,000 people.
For more information, please contact:
· In Bogota: Martha Elena Forero, NRC Media Coordinator, [email protected], +57 3125306224 · In Oslo: Media hotline, [email protected], +47 905 62 329