Brazil plans to raise number of cities welcoming Venezuelans

The Brazilian government wants to expand the number of cities welcoming Venezuelan immigrants and refugees. A protocol of intentions was signed Wednesday (Oct 2) in the presence of nine cabinet ministers, the National Confederations of Municipalities, and representatives from three United Nations (UN) agencies dealing with population (UNFPA), migration (IOM), and refugees (UNHCR).

The government’s goal is to distribute Venezuelans also across non-capital cities, with further opportunities for integration. By August, Brazil had 14,643 refugees and immigrants from the neighboring countries in over 250 municipalities. Upwards of 9 thousand immigrants have entered the country this year.

The president’s Chief of Staff Onyx Lorenzoni described the migration of Venezuelans as “the biggest diaspora in Latin America.” The UN reports that more than 4 million people have left Venezuela since 2016.

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The protocol stipulates that the municipalities joining the campaign will set the criteria for the selection of immigrants as well as the number of people and families they will receive, according to cities’ economic circumstances. In collaboration with the federal government, municipal authorities will set a date to receive the immigrants. It will be the Brazilian government’s task to clinically evaluate Venezuelans, vaccinate and provide them with immediate medical assistance.

The initiative is said to be aimed at decreasing the amount of Venezuelans concentrated in Roraima, a state sharing borders with Venezuela, and to offer more work and income opportunities in other locations. Roraima, said José de Araújo Jr., deputy head of the Office of the Chief of Staff, “does not have the necessary structure for the amount of people crossing the border. Keeping them there requires extremely high costs.”

Araújo Jr. argues that sheltering strategies must be sustainable. “Immigrants seek new opportunities. New opportunities does not mean staying in [state capital] Boa Vista or [border town] Pacaraima,” he said.

The official went on to say that their intention is to improve the sheltering model with the lowest possible costs so this can become a reality across the country.

Praised by the UN

UN Resident-Coordinator in Brazil Niky Fabiancic praised Brazil’s initiative. “It’s essential for the creation of opportunities for Venezuelans. For this to happen, the participation of municipalities is paramount.”

“The Brazilian response is efficient because it’s comprehensive. It includes border control policies, sheltering, and relocation. Brazil efficiently provides access to documentation, health care, education, shelter, protection, food, and social as well as economic integration,” he pointed out.