Venezuela has been confronted by a serious economic, political and social crisis since 2013. At least 3.4 million Venezuelans have fled worldwide, including 2.7 million to Latin American and Caribbean countries, of which one million in Colombia, according to the United Nations . In recent months, the crisis has forced tens of thousands of Venezuelans to flee to neighbouring countries.
Present in Colombia since 1998, HI had already assessed the needs of Venezuelans in Cucuta, Colombia, in 2017. More recently, in November 2018, HI assessed the needs of migrants in La Guajira, a crossing point in northern Colombia, in conjunction with the NGO DRC.
The organisation is currently preparing for the possible launch of an emergency response, in conjunction with DRC and Pastoral Social (Carias Colombia), which would include the following activities:
- psychosocial support to help Venezuelan migrants overcome their traumas
- rehabilitation care for the most vulnerable individuals (people with disabilities, older people, indigenous people, etc.)
- technical support (training, etc.) to local rehabilitation organisations so they can take care of refugees and migrants in need
- promoting social cohesion and peaceful coexistence between different communities
These activities would be carried out in the areas of La Guajira, Arauca, Atlántico (Baranquilla) and Vichada (Puerto Carreno). HI would then aim to operate in urban areas (Bogota, Medellín, Cali).
HI is also monitoring the situation in Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru.
