Topic B Discussion: COVID-19 and Refugees in Latin America

Hey everyone! 

In the previous days, I stumbled upon an interesting read related to the hardships Venezuelan immigrants are finding along their search for better lives. I thought It’d be helpful to share this information with you, fellow delegates, so feel free to give it a quick read here! Here’s a general overview of the article’s main takeaways:

  • Refugees currently established in countries such as Colombia, find themselves competing for attention with the country’s own internal crises, which have spiked poverty and gang violence as byproducts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • A report published by Amnesty International has determined that Women, who make up at least half the Venezuelan migrant population, are vulnerable to gender-based violence along migration routes and where they settle.
  • Xenophobic sentiment toward Venezuelan immigrants has been on the rise. Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo serves as a prime example who fed into the broader discourse propagated by several other not only Peruvian but also South American politicians. Planned repatriations and the sudden expulsion of sex workers have been examples of public antipathy towards Venezuelans in Peru.
  • Venezuelans became the leading nationality taking the treacherous route through the Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama during the first 5 months of 2022. Mexico and many Central American countries have imposed visa requirements for said immigrants, further complicating their regional transit.
  • Interestingly, many refugees have been anchored by optimistic growth forecasts, mainly driven by a foreseen rebound in the country’s oil industry. This sentiment is also influenced by the insecurity revolving around a “less-welcoming” region surrounding Venezuelans.

This article takes an organized approach when analyzing challenges for internally displaced Venezuelans, within individual regions. How do you believe these developments will evolve over the next months, maybe years?


Best,
Diego (Vice Chair)
3rd SOCHUM, BMUN 71

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