The number of refugee applications from Venezuelans to Brazil has more than quadrupled in the last two years, going from 829 in 2015 to 3,971 in January–May 2017. World Refugee Day is observed this Tuesday (June 20).
Refugee status is a legal protection that Brazil offers to citizens fleeing persecution in their own countries based on race, religion, nationality, social group, or political views. It may also apply to cases of human rights violations. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of refugees and refugee applications in Brazil increased in 2016, with 9,689 refugees reported in Brazil as against 8,863 in 2015. The total number of asylum applications rose from 28,670 in 2015 to 35,464 in 2016.
A majority of Venezuelans enter Brazil through Roraima state. The state government estimates 30,000 Venezuelans have entered the Brazilian state since the political and economic crisis in Venezuela deteriorated. The government also reported that 3,039 people were attended at migrant service centers in Boa Vista, Paracaima, and mobile units between October 2016 and June 2017.
Venezuelan Bruno Florian is sheltered at an immigrant referral center in Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima. He used to be an advisor to a student body back in his country.
“I can't go back to Venezuela simply because I don't agree, I don't like the way our government is letting young people like you and me die.”
The UNHCR reported about 65.6 million people were forced to move around the world in 2016. The number is the largest ever reported in the world.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Edited by: Carolina Pimentel / Olga Bardawil