Politics
11:37, 05-Sep-2018
Latin American ministers call for solution to Venezuelan migrant crisis
Updated
10:59, 08-Sep-2018
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Latin American nations called for orderly migration with proper documentation in response to the massive migration of Venezuelan immigrants on Tuesday.
The call came amid a joint declaration issued by representatives of 12 Latin American nations, who concluded a two-day summit in Ecuador's capital Quito, in an attempt to coordinate a response to the humanitarian crisis caused by an exodus of Venezuelans.
"Venezuela was the place of migratory destination for many years of all of Latin America. This generated a level of gratitude that we are paying back by receiving the Venezuelans," said Raul Sanhueza from the Chilean Ministry of External Relations.
According to the United Nations, more than two million Venezuelans are now living in neighboring countries to escape the economic crisis that led to shortages of food and medicine.
Ministers from Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico joined Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, the latter countries had received the bulk of migrants. Noticeably absent from the meeting was Venezuela’s representative.
On Tuesday, the Venezuelan government reacted to the European Union’s expression of concern over the humanitarian situation in the region. Delcy Rodriguez, the vice president of Venezuela, accused the international community of exaggerating the migration crisis to justify an "international intervention."
Last Friday, on August 31, the EU announced a 35 million US dollars aid package to solve the Venezuelan migration crisis.
Officials at the Ecuador summit continued to express concern over the security of Venezuelan migrants but said they would not be declaring a regional emergency.
"They are highly vulnerable to human trafficking, migrant smuggling, labor exploitation, lack of access to social security, extortion, violence, sexual abuse, recruitment for criminal activities, discrimination and xenophobia," stressed Andres Teran, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ecuador.
The Organization of American States Permanent Council will hold another meeting on this issue on Wednesday.