Venezuela Crisis: Peru takes steps to limit migration, declares health emergency amid influx of refugees

World
Europe

02:13

As Venezuela continues to reel from a spiralling economic and political crisis, the country's neighbors are facing an escalating issue with refugees. Peru is taking steps to stem the migrant tide, after an influx of Venezuelans led officials to declare a health emergency. CGTN's Dan Collyns has this report.

Here along the Peruvian border with Ecuador, more Venezuelans arrive, hungry and exhausted, looking for a fresh start. Among the piles of luggage, there is sadness, but also hope. Thirty-six-year-old Yasmira Gomez left Venezuela with her two children five days ago.

YASMIRA GOMEZ VENEZUELAN MIGRANT "The situation is really bad, my husband left in April to look for work abroad and now he's here with a little more stability so we've come to be reunited with him."

Earlier this week, Peru imposed new entry restrictions in an effort to stem the flow of migrants from Venezuela. Previously, they could enter with ID documents. Now they must have passports.

DAN COLLYNS TUMBES, PERU "Applying for asylum is the only option left for Venezuelans arriving in Peru without a passport. They can get a work permit while living in the country and their case is considered."

Migration officials say the number of Venezuelan migrants has dropped by half since the new entry requirement. But now hundreds more are seeking asylum in Peru. Among them are children and teenagers, some of whom traveled alone.

ROXANA ORTIZ MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS "We thought that after the passport requirement was imposed, there would be much less at-risk children and adolescents, but they continue to arrive without their parents and without any kind of travel documents."

The influx of migrants has prompted the authorities to declare an imminent danger to health and sanitation in this northern region. Medics offer free vaccinations to prevent the spread of diseases, from measles to malaria. Malnutrition and anaemia are common among new arrivals in this small border town. A humanitarian crisis building across the continent. Dan Collyns, CGTN, Tumbes, Peru.