Venezuelans leave Roraima, relocate to eight Brazilian cities
After one year in implementation, the process of resettling Venezuelans immigrating to Brazil is initiating its 24th stage today (Feb. 15). Another 226 people will be relocated by tomorrow (16) from Boa Vista, state capital of Roraima, in the Brazilian Amazon, to eight cities in the country’s South and Southeast: Porto Alegre, Caxias do Sul, Curitiba, Goioerê, Guarulhos, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, and Rio de Janeiro.
The first flight, to be operated by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), will have its first connection in Curitiba, where 90 Venezuelans are to disembark. From there, the trip continues to several other cities.
After Curitiba, the flight proceeds to Rio de Janeiro, where 32 people are headed. Of these, 21 will be housed in two shelter centers and 11 in the homes of family members. The others are flying in different flights to the cities of São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, capital city of Minas Gerais.
The state of São Paulo will welcome 24 Venezuelans, 18 in the capital and six in Guarulhos. Belo Horizonte is receiving 26. A group of 11 immigrants will head for Montes Claros, in Minas Gerais.
Tomorrow, a group of another 12 Venezuelans will be leaving for the town of Caicó, in the Brazilian Northeast. In a note, the government explained that most groups are formed by families at this stage.
Operation Shelter
Up to now, under Operation Shelter (Operação Acolhida)—an initiative aimed at providing humanitarian help for Venezuelan immigrants—4,564 people have left the shelters in Roraima to live in 17 states across Brazil.
The plan has mobilized the Armed Forces, government ministries, and associations, in addition to international agencies like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Development Program (PNUD).
The operation aims to mitigate the impact of the arrival of Venezuelans in Roraima and provide them with different types of subsidies to help them integrate with their target cities.
