Venezuelans in Argentina, a magnifying glass | Chronic

By Fedra Abagians
@trinityflux

Feeling expelled, first by the last part of the government of Hugo Chavez then for the presidency Nicolás MaduroFor studies, for years, thousands of Venezuelans have chosen Argentina as a destination for life. Venezuelan migration has become a historical record in 2018 and displaced immigrants from the rest of the Latin American countries.

Although many destinations in the world receive them, some 70,000 people have settled in the last three years, but who are they and how do Venezuelans who chose Argentina live? According to a study conducted by the United Nations Organization for Migration (IOM) on 28 October and 11 November 2018, 47% had to use land and air resources to travel to the country, 53% traveled alone, 66% are single, 50% have a university level and 38% have reported stress in the last year.

This is the second round of investigations, the first one was in July 2018, and this time they observed "A slight difference between men and women, with a slightly higher proportion of men.As for ages and health conditions, the majority of people of working age said they did not have any problems half of those interviewed have a university education and 8% have a postgraduate degree ", he described Mariana Beheran, coordinator of the IOM research unit. Many were working when they decided to leave their country, others had been planning for years, and many were doing it when they managed to collect money and set the route over land and air as was the case in recent years. since the beginning of the exodus.

In principle, among the required papers of Venezuelans who enter our country with the intention of residing, there is the document of identity, the entry for a permitted stage, the certificate of lack of criminal record of their country and Argentina. managed before the national registry of recidivism and proof of address. But it's not the only thing they need to get to their destination.

How did they arrive and why

She holds a degree in International Studies specializing in the field of human rights. Zulay Meléndez She is 27 years old and is currently unemployed. He arrived in Argentina on March 5, 2018. "I had to leave the country because of the situation in Venezuela, it stopped being easy on a daily basis, stay and help the family, and you started to see you very much locked in the house, by insecurity, by problems economic "says the young graduate. And as if that was not enough, his father died 3 months ago, victim of the humanitarian crisis.

Zulay, unlike others, took a long time to organize when the idea of ​​running away became the only option. "It was a question of managing the idea for years, because if something did not exist and many Venezuelans did the same, they were experiences close to those who had left. took a lot of time and effort to visualize it, to think that it was possible and to develop a plan on it "he counted.

Everything was an effort for them and it cost them. "We were not in a good economic situation, but I think the last thing he personally felt was that he was doing very little time. After seven in the evening, you could not leave, you were locked up at home. These are the totally unfavorable conditions that pushed us to prepare the plan "he explained. Between what they could sell and collect, they bought the tickets. And with another little one, they might have something to live and install: "We came here with just under $ 800 for both."

Since Argentina became one of the desired destinations for Venezuela's migration, many years have pbaded and many things have changed. The trip that previously could be planned and accessible over time is not so simple today. By flying alone, you now have sections or all by land. The papers which previously could be treated without problems to enter and live in the rule, now they have their difficulties. When they could previously alone, they must now sell their property and rely on yes or yes with the help of others. They leave their homes, their families, their jobs, their daily lives looking for another option that they know or live on. They decide to travel thousands of kilometers to reach a new territory where they will have to work as much or more than the inhabitants. The uprooting, nostalgia and daily struggle pose permanent challenges.

Alfredo and his wife already feel porteños

Alfredo Rubén Leal Perdomo He is 37 years old, married, and arrived with his wife in April 2016. He studied philosophy and obtained a master's degree in public policy in Venezuela. And here, as if that were not enough, he completed a specialization in Museum Management and Collections at the University of Buenos Aires. He is currently secretary in a dental office. "When we decided with my wife to come, we had as a reference my sister-in-law, who was already based in Buenos Aires, we knew that Venezuelans were welcome", Perdomo counted. Economically, Alfredo and his wife were in a good situation. "He taught at the university and worked as a planning officer for the state government of Lara.My wife had a women's accessories business.Two years ago, we had bought a house, we had our car, but what we saw for us was already very difficult, I took care of my parents and it became difficult for us to cover our life as a couple but to help them ".

"By the time we decided to come, we were pretty reserved, we did not sell the house, we sold the car, among other things and with that, in addition to the savings, we financed the trip. We bought the tickets and we came "Assura Alfredo. He said that at that time, you could still make direct flights. "We have come to Viasa, the airline of the Venezuelan state".

Since arriving in Argentina, Alfredo and his wife have not returned to Venezuela. "When we had the opportunity to travel, we made it clear that the best thing to do was not to return to Venezuela, but to bring our parents to a break in the difficult situation who reigns there. " he counted.

The couple, already well established in Argentina, do not have children. "Part of the cost of migration is that we do not have children yet, when we were in Venezuela that was what we expected, we already had the house, the car, we had our jobs, we were in principle firm but the situation of the country did not allow it, then we came here and we hope this year to order, to see if we bring more porteños to the world ", He counted with hope.

She likes music but works as a saleswoman

From Barquisimeto, capital of the state of Lara, Elicar Rafaela Perez Ruiz She arrived in Argentina at the age of 23, end of January 2018. She graduated in music and was received in Venezuela. Today, she works in a clothing store in Argentina.. "I chose Argentina for its culture, for the development of music and art, because it is a country that welcomes people from all over the world.", Said Elicar, who already had friends and cousins ​​in the country.He did not come alone, she did it with her boyfriend Rafa while they were together for a year, today, two years ago. "It was like a warning, if we let the time pbad, we could not come in. My boyfriend sold his car, I used my flute, a part of the family we had on the outside gave us money to come and see us "he explained.

The road they had to take took days and the most tedious was to cross the Venezuela-Brazil border. Both are considered "blessed" because they did not lack food and did not waste time. "If we were delayed something, we lost the whole route but unfortunately it's not everyone's luck.It was a bit rougher than we thought but at the same time. Inside, everything went well, we knew we were facing an adventure and had to live it., counted relieved. "Argentina has received us very well, we consider ourselves blessed because in other countries, there are Venezuelans who do not have the same luck"Elisar concluded.

Samuel escaped just in time

Samuel David Ruzza He came to Argentina in 2012. He is an electronics engineer and works here in movie theaters. That year, he came on vacation and was in love with Buenos Aires. When he thought about the options, he did not hesitate. "I came by plane, at that time, the situation was not so serious, we could travel with peace of mind.I left my mother, my father and at that time there were all my cousins ​​who are like my brothers, but a few years later, they left too, and of all my cousins ​​I grew up with, there were none left. I have two here, one in the United States, another in Peru and the other three in Spain"Ruzza counted when he came to Argentina, Ruzza said that"At that time, the flour, the sugar began to be rare, not at the current level, there is never any. There, it was necessary to wait a few days or a week. Everything was starting to deteriorate, only after climbing much faster, it deteriorated more and more and led to what it is now "he badured.

Like Ruzza, many others have decided to leave their lands. Orlando Garcia is from Mérida, one of the main cities of the Venezuelan Andes. He arrived in Argentina in 2014. He had been living in a room for three years because his economic situation did not allow him to rent an apartment in Caracas, where he worked as an engineer.