Venezuela, country that 5,000 people give up every day Image caption More than 3 million people have fled Venezuela in recent years and

In Venezuela, the discussion about the time it remains to stay, where to save themselves and how to start a new life is never far removed from the concerns of many people. Every time I visit the country, there are fewer friends and acquaintances with whom to get in touch.

It is estimated that 5,000 people pack their bags and leave the country every day, eager to escape the economic collapse and the humanitarian crisis in the country. oil-rich nation

More than 3 million people have fled Venezuela in recent years. According to the United Nations, this figure is expected to reach more than 5 million by the end of 2019.

• Petrodollar expenditures have contributed to the sinking of Venezuela, which already had a "sky branch"
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The vast majority of Venezuelans travel to other parts of South America: more than one million Venezuelans chose the Neighboring Colombia to settle here, and half a million of them cross the country towards Ecuador, Peru and other destinations in the region

The lucky ones, those who have Relationships and family members already established in other countries with a good level of education have found work. But I also met many people who were selling water or food on the streets of Peru and Colombia to survive.

"We are talking about people who leave not in the aftermath of a natural disaster or war," says Claudia Vargas Ribas, specialist of

New Year, new challenges

The new year should overburden the Venezuelan government. On January 10, Nicolas Maduro will be officially sworn in for another six years after being declared winner of the May elections that were heavily boycotted by the opposition and criticized by the United States, the European Union and most neighbors of Venezuela. President Maduro accuses the "imperialists" – such as the United States and Europe – of leading an "economic war" against Venezuela and imposing sanctions on many members of his government.

But his critics say that's the bad. the economic administration – first by his predecessor, Hugo Chávez, and now by Maduro himself – who left Venezuela on his knees.

"We will have critical days and weeks from January," says David Smolanksy, an exiled opposition leader now head of the Venezuelan Migration Working Group to the Organization of the United Nations. American states (OAS).

"Maduro will want to be strong," said Geoff Ramsey, deputy director.

Opposition-controlled leadership of the National Assembly changed in early January, and some believe it could exacerbate tensions. Venezuela to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a non-governmental organization dedicated to the promotion of human rights, democracy and social justice.

"I think this will create a new level of dissatisfaction, and the few who do not have a flight plan will do something after Maduro formalizes his new mandate."

The region reacts

The Venezuelan crisis will continue to affect all of South America. "The countries of the region are developing countries, we can not forget it," says Claudia Vargas Ribas. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is about to take the oath as President of the Republic of Venezuela.
Reuters

Efforts have been made to coordinate a humanitarian response. Two meetings were held in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and an agreement was reached on the need for countries to work together to resolve the crisis. A third meeting is planned for the first semester of 2019.

"If you compare what Latin America did with what Europe did [com seus migrantes] it is Europe which enjoys better conditions and which is more developed economically, Latin America shows the example, "says sociologist Tomás Páez, coordinator of the global project of the Venezuelan diaspora.

But with the arrival of more and more Venezuelans, could the countries reinforce their immigration rules?] "They put obstacles, illegal immigration will increase," says Paez, adding that drug trafficking, prostitution and illegal industries would develop

Much remains to be done

Some experts believe that what has been promised so far is a drop in a bucket compared to what is needed. [19659005] "The regional governments are very interested in funding from the US and other donors, "says G eoff Ramsey. "But they are much more reluctant when it comes to finding solutions to the crisis in the medium and long term."

Earlier this month, 95 organizations, coordinated by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration, launched the so-called regional response plan for refugees and the migrants of Venezuela

The idea is to help meet the needs of Venezuelans who emigrate, as well as to call on the international community to help fund humanitarian relief.

Geoff Ramsey believes that it's a good start, but what the newspaper promises is not enough. "The solution to the Venezuelan migration crisis will force Latin America to integrate these people into their formal economies and labor markets."

The region must not only react to the crisis, but also maintain the pressure on Maduro, said David Smolanksy. "You need a powerful arm and a hand," he said.

"The region must be firm against dictatorship and as long as it will last, people will continue to flee."