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Situational Update: Venezuela Situation Update, February 2018

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The number of Venezuelans seeking asylum has risen yearly since 2014. Between 2014 and 2018, some 146,000 asylum claims have been lodged.

Venezuelans arriving recently have stronger humanitarian needs and less financial resources to cover them, and are therefore more vulnerable and in need of assistance.

Colombia, Brazil and Guyana announced new measures to address the arrivals of Venezuelans, as border areas are increasingly overstretched.

Brazil

Operational Context

  • 24,818 asylum claims have been lodged since 2014, 2,461 asylum in 2018 alone. 7,216 Venezuelans are still pending registration. A total of 2,493 of 10,963 Temporary Residence Permits have been granted. In 2018, the Federal Police estimate that 18,348 Venezuelans entered and remained in Brazil.

  • Following President Temer’s visit to Roraima on 8 February, a provisional measure and a presidential decree1 were issued addressing the emergency assistance provided to migratory influxes. The decree came into effect immediately, highlighting the necessity of a humanitarian response at the border. The Presidential visit raised the profile of the situation and opened opportunities for new stakeholders. It also led to an increased Army and Police presence in the Brazilian border with Venezuela, in particular in Pacaraima.

UNHCR’s response and partnerships

  • On 23 February, UNHCR, the Municipality of Boa Vista and the Federal Police, built a task force to identify people interested in the voluntary relocation programme known as “interiorization programme”, starting with asylum-seekers living in the Tancredo Neves shelter. Those willing to participate have undergone a medical screening and vaccination, and obtained valid documentation. Approximately 350 people have been cleared to participate. Manaus and Sao Paulo appear to be the main destinations. UNHCR is following up with both municipalities.

  • Meanwhile, UNHCR continues applying its Protection Monitoring Tool with the Federal Police. Overall 305 interviews have been conducted: 78% are willing to participate in a relocation program; 91% want to stay in Brazil.

  • UNHCR, the Federal Police and the Prosecutors’ Office signed an agreement to strengthen the task force receiving asylum-seekers in Manaus. From 1-24 January, 386 people were registered, increasing the registration capacity from 10 to 30 people/day with support of ten UNHCR sponsored volunteers.

  • Boa Vista hosted UNHCR’s Senior Regional Protection Officer, who led the elaboration of a plan of action for Child Protection and Sexual and Gender Bases Violence, which includes the development of a Safe Spaces Network and improve the capacity of national protection staff.

  • UNHCR is liaising with the Army regarding the renovation of the Tancredo Neves Shelter. UNHCR has registered 599 people (179 women, 331 men and 89 children.) On 5 February, containers donated by the Canadian Embassy for education and health activities were inaugurated.

  • In the Pacaraima shelter, UNHCR registered 391 refugees (167 women, 224 men and 218 children.) The data collected will serve for food and non-food items distribution.

  • Cáritas Manaus started a project supported by UNHCR to assist PoC, focusing on social and legal assistance.

  • The PAHO/WHO and the Minister of Heath will scale up their presence and response in Boa Vista, following a UNHCR led visit to the Pintolandia and Tancredo Neves shelters, where they could observe the main gaps in health and WASH conditions.

  • With the support of UNCHR, the Center of Integration Enterprise-School (CIEE) presented their Youth Apprentice program to PoC, and Venezuelans have begun to be enrolled.

  • The Manaus Municipality created an emergency plan to introduce the Warao children to the public education network.