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More than 4 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2014 because of political strife, human rights abuses and lack of economic opportunity.
Approximately 5,000 people leave Venezuela every day because of political strife, human rights abuses and lack of economic opportunity. The vast majority are seeking refuge in neighboring Latin American countries and the Caribbean.
Alberto Marino had a good life in Venezuela. But violence broke out and Alberto knew he needed to flee his home if he was going to survive. “At 33, I left behind my family, my whole career,” recalls Alberto. “I came to the U.S. escaping for my life.”
More than 4.5 million Venezuelans have fled the country to escape violence, gang warfare as well as lack of food, medicine and essential services. It is the largest exodus in Latin America’s recent history.
“When I crossed the border and I saw the jackets of UNHCR, I said, ‘I will live.’”
Many are risking their lives, either wading across torrential rivers or risking exploitation and abuse by armed groups controlling treacherous irregular paths.
Maria fled Venezuela with her granddaughter seeking safety and a chance for a new start. At Centro de Atencion al Migrante (CAMIG), a shelter in Bogota, we hear firsthand why more than 4.5 million have fled the country in recent years.
Besem Obenson is Head of Sub Office-Medellín in Colombia. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Besem has worked for the UN Refugee Agency for more than a decade. On a recent trip to Colombia, we met with Besem to hear how UNHCR is responding to the crisis unfolding in Venezuela.
A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality or political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so.
Venezuelans like Lisette and Johnny are now living in neighboring Latin American countries where they can access food, medical care, legal services, educational opportunities and more.
Dedicated teachers ensure that Venezuelan refugee children stay in school.
With more than 216 countries affected by COVID-19, the coronavirus pandemic is a global challenge that affects us all - including refugees and other people displaced by conflict or persecution.
In September, USA for UNHCR’s Nic Feeney traveled to Colombia to meet Venezuelans fleeing the crisis in their home country and to witness first-hand how UNHCR is providing support and protection to those in need.
Two-year-old Victoria holds her cuddly teddy bear outside her Refugee Housing Unit in Boa Vista, Brazil.
Thanks to donors, UNHCR teams are on the ground around the world, 365 days a year. Here’s a look at some of the ways donors stepped up and made a life-changing difference for refugees in 2018.
Every day of the year, and on every step of the journey, our dedicated partners made possible our work of delivering safety and protection to millions of refugees and forcibly displaced communities worldwide. As we begin the new year, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the highlights USA for UNHCR donors helped us provide in 2019
More than 800 Venezuelans are entering Brazil each day. 52,000 Venezuelans have arrived in Brazil since the beginning of 2017.
Countries across Latin America are calling on refugee and migrant health workers to support their national responses to COVID-19.
Approximately 1.7 million displaced Venezuelans will now benefit from added protection, security and stability through a ten-year temporary protection status (TPS).
This year’s laureate of the Nansen Refugee Award is a Colombian educator who has spent more than 20 years rescuing sexually exploited and trafficked children, many of them refugees.
Data from UNHCR’s annual Global Trends report shows that almost 70.8 million people are now forcibly displaced.
UNHCR’s annual Global Trends report, which comes two days ahead of June 20th World Refugee Day, shows that an unprecedented 79.5 million were displaced as of the end of 2019.
This Father’s Day we are celebrating the strength and resilience of refugee fathers. Their stories serve as inspiration to fathers all over the world.
Displaced people with disabilities are being given new opportunities that allow them to apply their skills and capacities to benefit themselves, their families and communities.
Lawyer Azizbek Ashurov spent over a decade helping the Kyrgyz Republic to resolve all known cases of statelessness in a historic first.