UN warns of more Venezuelans fleeing COVID-19 into Guyana

…says illegal persons at higher risk of being left out of national response

The coronavirus (COVID-19) will bring increased illegal border crossings by neighbouring Venezuelans, looking to flee the already beleaguered state.
Guyana shares a 3000-kilometre largely unpatrolled and unprotected border with Venezuela and according to a recently-released United Nations report, “…with new or revised entry requirements imposed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability of refugees and migrants to regularly enter and stay in some countries has decreased”.
As such, this would result in “risks of increased irregular border crossings and heightened pressure in areas of concentration and available services”
The “Global Humanitarian Response Plan COVID-19 United Nations Coordinated Appeal April-December 2020”, released this week by the UN, found that refugees and migrants, in particular those in irregular situations, are at high risk of being left out of health responses and continue to be particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, including violence and discrimination, smuggling and trafficking, and negative coping mechanisms.
The UN, in its emergency approach, has since begun a review of the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP) by the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform (R4V), working closely with 17 individual Government-led responses, including Guyana’s.
According to the UN report, “it is crucial to ensure proper integration into the national health responses and to extend additional support to the particularly vulnerable group of refugees and migrants from Venezuela.”
With Venezuelans continuously crossing the border, leading to an increase in their numbers in particularly the Region One (Barima-Waini) district, Regional Chairman Brethnol Ashley has had cause to express worry over the fact that the Region lacks resources to cater for the individuals who are seeking refuge there.
Documents seen by Guyana Times illustrate the Chairman’s claims, stressing the lack of human resources. He added that shortages of drugs and other medical supplies continue to plague the Region as a result of the high number of Venezuelans.
These matters were highlighted during a special meeting between Regional Executives with the intent of establishing collaboration between Regions One and Seven to address the number of issues birthed as a result of the increased influx of Venezuelans.
“There continues to be shortage of drugs and medical supply as a result of the increased number of Venezuelans seeking medical and other attention,” the Chairman pointed out.
Even prior to the UN’s warning, the latest figures released have shown a steady increase in the migrant population.
The Chairman had noted that figures presented to him just before the meeting indicated that there continued to be an increase in the number of Venezuelan migrants, stressing that there was an urgent need for Government to take appropriate actions to lend valuable support while protecting the interests of Guyanese.
He had revealed, “For White Water, there are 640; in the community of Imberto, there is 74; there is also a new community under the radar called Black Water Barima with 40; Khan Hill has 101; Kamwatta has 65 while Yarakita has 64, so the numbers tell its own story that indeed there is an increase,” Ashley said.