Page 3 - Preliminary Report on the Venezuelan Migrant and Refugee Crisis in the Region

Executive Summary

The ongoing Venezuelan migrant and refugee crisis is, without doubt, unprecedented in the

region. As of end-2018 at least 3.4 million Venezuelans, more than 10 percent of the country’s
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population, have fled to different destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean. They have
left behind a Venezuela crippled by severe problems, including shortages of food and medicine,

hyperinflation, generalized violence, existence or perception of social control, and widespread

violations of human rights and crimes against humanity.

The majority of Venezuelan migrants and refugees are in
As of end-2018 at
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least 3.4 million Colombia (1.2 million), Peru (700,000), Chile (265,800),
Venezuelans, more Ecuador (220,000), Argentina (130,000), and Brazil (100,000)
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than 10 percent of the
among other countries in the region. In percentage terms,
country’s population,
Venezuelans now make up a large portion of the populations of
have fled to different
destinations in Latin several Caribbean countries. In the case of Curaçao, for example,
America and the the 26,000 Venezuelans registered there represent 15 percent of
Caribbean
the island’s total population, while the 16,000 Venezuelans in

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Aruba are equivalent to 10 percent of its population.

1 Response for Venezuelans. Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan for Refugees and Migrants from
Venezuela, December 2018,
https://s3.amazonaws.com/unhcrsharedmedia/2018/RMRP_Venezuela_2019_OnlineVersion.pdf.
2 Migración Colombia. “Más de un millón cien mil venezolanos estarían radicados en Colombia.” December
2018, http://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/index.php/es/prensa/comunicados/comunicados-
2018/diciembre-2018/9348-mas-de-un-millon-cien-mil-venezolanos-estarian-radicados-en-colombia.
3 United Nations Mission in Peru, UN Security Council, 26 January 2019.
4 Department of Foreign Nationals and Migration of Chile. January 2019.
5 Response for Venezuelans. Operational Portal, Refugee Situations, December 2018
https://r4v.info/es/situations/platform.
6 Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Mauricio Macri ante la 73° Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas.”
September 2018 https://cancilleria.gob.ar/es/destacados/mauricio-macri-ante-la-73deg-asamblea-general-
de-naciones-unidas.
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Response for Venezuelans. Operational Portal, Refugee Situations, December 2018
https://r4v.info/es/situations/platform.
8 Response for Venezuelans. Operational Portal, Refugee Situations,” December 2018
https://r4v.info/es/situations/platform.

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