Yuletzi Salazar, a 20-year-old Venezuelan, arrives in Lago Agrio, Ecuador with her young children and her 48-year-old father Fabián. ; Ecuador has a long tradition of welcoming refugees and is now the third largest host country in South America (behind Colombia and Peru) for Venezuelans fleeing the socio-economic situation. Up to 250,000 Venezuelans are estimated to be living in Ecuador and the government is providing forms of legal stay. Some 90,000 residence permits have been issued (as of mid-October 2018). It is also a transit country, with hundreds of thousands travelling onwards. Those who have settled are concentrated in urban areas including Quito, Guayaquil, Manta, Cuenca and Ibarra. At border entry points, UNHCR delivers humanitarian aid, shelter and cash-based assistance to new arrivals, some of whom are very vulnerable and have specific needs or disabilities.
More than three million Venezuelans are living outside of their country of origin—the largest outflow in Latin America’s recent history.
Skyrocketing inflation, a lack of food, medicine and social services, and incidents of violence and insecurity have compelled many Venezuelans to leave—an average of 5,000 a day. The crisis has forced many to seek better opportunities and safety beyond Venezuela’s borders.
UNHCR has scaled up its response to support efforts made by neighbouring countries by providing immediate assistance—including water, food and shelter—as well as assessing their need for protection and other vital services.
Here is a glimpse at the individuals impacted by the ongoing crisis, and a look at how UNHCR is extending hands and hearts to support those on the move.
“When I see the people here, someone says ‘Good morning,’ someone says, ‘How are you?’ This is making me feel good. I know I lost everything back home. But I found here some people to help me.”
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Home » Venezuela: Refugee faces of a country in crisis