A Venezuelan woman lost her baby while waiting for a visa to enter Chile

SANTIAGO DE CHILE (Reuters) .- The Chilean authorities announced today that a Venezuelan migrant had lost his pregnant baby while waiting for the corresponding visa to cross the Chilean border.

Peru has restricted immigration last month, requiring pbadports and visas to stay on its territory. The new rules have pushed some migrants to continue their route south to Chile.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile said in a statement that he regretted what had happened and stressed: "We have redoubled efforts to speed up the visa applications of all those who possess the necessary documentation ".

The economic crisis in Venezuela has caused the largest population exodus from the recent history of this country. Millions of Venezuelans have fled their lands in recent years, putting pressure on neighboring countries' services and migration systems.

Chile, which has one of the
The strongest and most stable economies in Latin America are a magnet for Venezuelans seeking to overcome the crisis.

Immigration to Chile has increased six-fold in less than 30 years, from 114,500 foreigners to the 1992 census to nearly 750,000 last year. The majority of recent immigrants come from Haiti and Venezuela.

The Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had beefed up its staff at the Tacna consulate in Peru to cope with the flow of immigration. The consulate has issued more than 1,000 visas to Venezuelans seeking to enter the country in recent weeks, according to the government.