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A report from the non-governmental organization questions the strategy used so far to solve the problem. Today, a decree has been announced that will allow more than 442,000 irregular Venezuelan migrants to have access to a special residence permit, with access to health, education and work.
About 35,000 Venezuelans enter Colombia every day. Óscar Pérez
In a report entitled: "Responding to an exodus: the crisis of Venezuelan migrants and refugees seen from the borders with Colombia and Brazil" the office to Washington for Latin American Affairs (WOLA) a non-governmental organization that promotes human rights in the region, questioned the approach that the government of President Juan Manuel Santos has up to Now attracted the attention of the citizens of the neighboring country.
The document is known at the time that from Casa de Nariño, according to Radio Caracol revealed, the first president has endorsed Decree 1288 of 2018, which will allow more than 442,000 Venezuelans who are irregularly in Colombia and who participated in the census that has been developed in recent months, can access a special permit for permanence, to be able to access the institutional offer on health, education and work . The decree will be announced next Monday.
The WOLA report warns that as the political, social and economic crisis worsens in Venezuela, more and more citizens will flee, and from all the South American countries affected by this exodus, Colombia will continue to wave of arrivals, causing great tension in local institutions and systems at a time when the challenge of implementing the historic 2016 peace agreement is also confronted.
" Colombia demonstrates leadership in the humanitarian response to Venezuelans fleeing the crisis However, the approach taken to this point has had serious shortcomings; which is particularly worrying since it is very likely that the exodus will accelerate in the coming months, with no visible solution to the crisis, "says the report, . prepared by Geoff Ramsey and Gimena Sánchez-Gárzoli, from the WOLA Human Rights Group
The report's main findings and urgent policy recommendations for Colombia include the adoption of the report. A more humanitarian approach to the Venezuelan migration crisis And it calls into question the policies and regulations adopted by the Santos government, which have made it difficult for Venezuelans to access the necessary humanitarian aid, including housing. , medical care, social programs and employment opportunities to mitigate risk becoming vulnerable to recruitment by illegal armed groups operating along the border.
"For example, the only official refuge of the Colombian government for Venezuelan migrants in Cucuta, can only accommodate 250 people, migrants, and it is mostly empty since it It's only open to migrants with all their documents in order (which is only the case for a small minority), "the document says. documentation for migrants and refugees has created special challenges for those seeking to formalize their immigration status.
In this regard, he points out that because of the current crisis, there is It is difficult for most Venezuelans to obtain basic documents (such as identity documents or pbadports) needed to travel and, in most cases, countries, formally apply for residence or protection status. "By applying regulations that compel the Ven "
And concludes:" The fact that Venezuelans are settling in areas where there are large security gaps is a major concern. Migration Data from Colombia show that the main departments hosting Venezuelan migrants are: Norte de Santander (18.6%) and La Guajira (16.9%). This makes them not only vulnerable to violence and harm, but also to the recruitment of illegal armed groups, in particular, the National Liberation Army (ELN). "
An uninteresting diagnosis that apparently the Santos government wants to start reversing with the 1288 decree crated, and that, according to the text published by Caracol Radio, involves the granting of a Special Permit of Permanence (PEP) who will be the one who will guarantee the [Venezuela] Administrative Register of Migrants which, in addition to access to the institutional offer, includes sanctions in cases of breach of the national legal order
Among the measures to be applied, mention may be made of validation of studies of basic and secondary education of Venezuelan children and young people to guarantee their entry into educational institutions in Colombia, the possibility of validating the diplomas of higher education; right to emergency care, prenatal care for women pregnant and belonging to the General System of s And the attention of Family Welfare to early childhood and pregnant women.
In turn, Venezuelan migrants registered in the registry will be able to access the Service's orientation, information and referral services. Public employment and the Ministry of Labor should establish a mechanism to promote and facilitate their access to the labor market.
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