Entry of Venezuelan immigrants across the Pacaraima (RR) border increased by 64.3% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2022. Those following the humanitarian crisis in the city attributed the surge to the arrival of more unaccompanied children, the elderly and the sick.
What’s wrong
Between January and March this year, 51,838 Venezuelans traveled to Roraima, compared to 31,552 in the same period last year. The data comes from the Acolhida operation of the civil house of the federal government.
There was also a 21% increase in arrivals from Venezuela (42,604) compared to the last quarter of 2022.
The surge in immigrants has caused the number of people living on the streets of Pacaraima to skyrocket, compounding the humanitarian crisis. There are reports of crimes being committed that draw criticism for their persistence on the streets. Organizations criticize the sometimes ruthless actions of the policeS
With a population of 20,000, the city saw an influx of Venezuelans eight times the total population in 2022 (see below the development of the numbers over the last six years).
Most Venezuelans arriving in the city are taken to Boa Vista. The immigrants then go to cities that accept them and help them rebuild their lives in another country.
From 2017 to last year, 906 municipalities welcomed 89,000 Venezuelans — Curitiba tops the rankings with 5,700 Venezuelans inducted in six years)
At the request of support organizations, no Venezuelan was interviewed for this report. The column reached out to the Ministry of Justice (designated by the Civil Chamber to speak on the issue) and the Roraima Public Security Secretariat, but received no response.
The UN is concerned
The arrival of people in vulnerable circumstances usually occurs because they are the ones who face the greatest difficulties in migrating and tend to wait longer for conditions to improve. which is not the case in Venezuela today. The situation is being monitored and concerns UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency).
Elderly people with disabilities are arriving in greater numbers than before the pandemic. It is a section of greater vulnerability, which requires greater attention and has specific public services for the needs of this population.
UNHCR, in a statement sent to UOL
Because the Acolhida operation data does not provide information by age and health status, it is not possible to compare information on refugees by shift.
Leader criticizes Lula for supporting Maduro
Father Jesus de Bobadilla, one of the leaders supporting Venezuelans in Pacaraima, says the city is weary of migration and the problem appears far from resolved.
This year the church will open a pastoral center dedicated to caring for the elderly. Currently, the Church already serves 600 children in educational centers, but the number is small compared to the number that is arriving.
For him, President Lula’s statement that there was a crisis narrative in Venezuela is a “scandal”.
What does the priest say?
The city is troubled by thousands of Venezuelans. Pacaraima was a peaceful town and there are a lot of crooks in that neighborhood and we have a lot of murders.”
Without the army it would be impossible to inhabit there. We share lunch boxes to mitigate this drama, but the problem is that people are tired: today there are 3,000 to 4,000 Venezuelan children on the streets. There are many more children now; At first they were more like adults. That is an alarming number.”
The situation is getting worse; We, institutions, only minimize, not solve. The solution lies in Caracas, and we saw one of the main contributors [Nicolás Maduro] to be applauded. It’s a contrast that we welcome the victims and support the guilty.”
Father Jesus of Bobadilla
Venezuelans in the streets of Pacaraima (RR)
Image: Personal archive
“dry ice”
The President of the Human Rights Commission of the Maceió Chamber, Teca Nelma (PSD), was in Pacaraima two weeks ago and described the situation as desperate. “It is an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.”
She was visiting on behalf of Casa Ranquines, an organization that supports indigenous Venezuelans living in Maceió and claims that this group is particularly affected by alcoholism. He also said that the language is being changed thanks to the large presence of Venezuelans. “The Roraimenses themselves already speak a ‘portunhol,'” he says.
When arriving in Brazil via Pacaraima (RR), there are large queues every day.
Image: Personal archive
What does the councilwoman say?
Unaccompanied minors, people with disabilities and women in vulnerable and violent situations arrive every day. But traffic is also included in the middle. Pacaraima literally became a city to accommodate these people. It’s a dry ice situation.”
What I have also seen is that underemployment is always caused by indigenous peoples or Venezuelans and there is a feeling in the city that they are “stealing our jobs and not contributing to our society”.
Teak Nelma
Trading on the main street of the city of Pacaraima (RR) on the border with Venezuela
Image: Tiago Queiroz/Estadão Content
The city will have a city guard
Concerns about the increase in violence were the subject of a public hearing in the community on the 26th. The city hall announced that it is setting up a municipal guard with an initial staff of 29 to support security.
Deputy Mayor Simeão Peixoto (PV) says that as much as the city supports Venezuelans upon arrival, there is a limit and defends more support from the state and federal governments. According to him, between April 2021 and December 2022, all immigrants who were on the streets after 7 p.m. However, as flow increased, this became impractical.
What does the deputy mayor say?
“The municipality does not have and will never have the logistical requirements to carry out a permanent operation without the involvement of the police.”
Despite all the difficulties, we never left or let them down; nor to enforce law, safety and order in our community.”
Simeon Peixoto
Aerial view of the reception center for immigrants from Venezuela
Image: Operation Acolhida/Zivilhaus