By Sabrina Nowak
The Venezuelan economy has collapsed, resulting in spiraling inflation, unemployment, and widespread shortages of food, water, electricity, and health care. To date, approximately 6 million Venezuelans have been forced to flee to other countries largely due to the corrupt government in power. The conditions of whether or not these citizens can return to their homes remains to be seen.
The focus of this investigation is not to scandalize those who take part in Venezuela's official parties, nor those who had positioned themselves at high-ranking forces, but rather to educate, and bring to light on a global stage, the crisis the country and its people have faced over almost a decade.
Venezuela, a country that in the past hosted thousands of refugees from the region [South America] and other parts of the world, is now the country with the second largest international displacement crisis in the world, and the largest exodus in recent Latin America’s history. Causes of the exodus involve political, economic, human rights, and humanitarian crises that have existed in the country for quite some time. Since 2014, 6 million citizens (20% of the population) have fled the country. Widespread violence, skyrocketing hyperinflation, “soaring crime rates as well as shortages of food, medicine and essential services have forced millions to seek refuge in neighboring countries and beyond” (“Venezuela Situation”). Those that have left the country are found crossing borders to Colombia; from here many continue their journey to Ecuador, Peru and Chile. These countries have been generously hosting them, but since an “estimated 5,000 people are fleeing the country everyday” (“Venezuela Situation”), their capability to provide them [Venezuelans] with amenities and resources has become increasingly strained.
Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro, was first elected in April 2013 after the death of his socialist mentor, Hugo Chavez. During Maduro’s first term, the economy went into freefall. Many Venezuelans blame him and his official party for the country’s deterioration. Bloomberg News has been tracking the price of a cup of coffee with the sole purpose of revealing how Maduro’s presidential term has impacted the economy; it has measured “an increase of 2,597% in 12 months” (“Venezuela Crisis: How the Political Situation Escalated”). The country has been in the grip of an economic crisis for years, with inflation being one of the main problems. It is President Maduro who is the target of much of the current suffering and anger that these citizens have experienced. And it’s not only the economy that has irrationally increased, but so has the humanitarian crisis. Over the past few years, Venezuela citizens have been unable to access basic healthcare services, or adequate nutrition. According to the United Nations, “7 million Venezuelans urgently need humanitarian assistance” (“Venezuela: A Democratic Crisis”). As a support for the people, the UN Refugee Agency has joined over 90 partners to establish a plan to direct humanitarian assistance that would help meet basic needs. Host governments, organizations, civil society, and the UN agencies, particularly IOM, have all undertaken strategies to meet the citizens' necessities.
Those who are forced to flee the country, specifically families with children, pregnant women, elderly people and people with disabilities are exposed to “heightened risks of exploitation, trafficking, violence, discrimination and xenophobia” (“Venezuela Situation ''). However, campaigns in regard to xenophobia have been made. Countries where Venezuela citizens are migrating to, not only are providing them with the fundamentals [clothes, education, and health care] but also with a safe and dignified position among its country’s own citizens. For instance, those who choose to move to the United States are guaranteed a legal stay, if they follow the right procedures. It has been documented that “more than 950,000 Venezuelans have filed asylum claims'' (''Venezuela Situation''). Many Venezuelans leave their country without knowing if they’ll ever visit the land that watched them grow. A 34-year-old woman, Nayebis Carolina Figuera, was stopped on her way to neighboring Brasil, and when she was asked “what was her reason to fleeing the country”, she explained how she “didn’t have a place to live or sleep and had nothing to eat” (“Venezuela Situation''). Nayebi’s situation is the cruel reality thousands of citizens live through on a daily basis. This crushing and disheartening truth of what the majority of Venezuelans face is barely talked about.
However, people who still have high hopes for the government to restore what Venezuela once was a superpower it’s slowly diminishing. The country’s on-going decline has assured them that there will not be a return to democracy.
Works Cited
“Venezuela: A Democratic Crisis”
“Venezuela Crisis: How the Political Situation Escalated”
“Venezuela Situation”
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