The drama experienced by Venezuelans on the border with Brazil
The situation that Venezuelans are experiencing on the border between their country and Brazil is alarming. Angela, a 34-year-old single mother, joins this drama. She walked for days from Caracas to Pacaraima with her two young children.
“We left everything behind,” she said through tears, recalling how the economic crisis forced her to close her small business and sell her few belongings. “There was no more food, no more medicine. I couldn’t keep watching my children go hungry,” told to NTA.
The flow of Venezuelan migrants on the border with Brazil
Pacaraima, a small municipality in Brazil, has become a key entry point for thousands of Venezuelans fleeing the humanitarian crisis in their country.
This town has been the first refuge for many migrants and asylum seekers seeking a better life.
This is the drama that Venezuelans are experiencing on the border between Brazil and Venezuela 👇
Video courtesy 📹 pic.twitter.com/Q34rCCYzbT
— News Now (@nta_vzla) September 6, 2024
Families seek better opportunities in Brazil
Border crossings often present poignant images of families, children and the elderly crossing on foot with few things, desperately seeking help and opportunities. However, episodes of conflict have also arisen between local citizens and Venezuelans due to the overload of public services and competition for informal jobs.
José, 28 years old, arrived in Pacaraima a month before Ángela. A retired military officer in Venezuela, he left his country after refusing to follow orders that went against his principles. “I realized that I could no longer participate in a system that harmed my people,” comments firmly to NTA.
Upon arriving in Pacaraima, he joined a group of people who help other migrants adapt to new circumstances. “Here we help each other. We are all in the same situation and we want to get ahead,” he says while distributing food to new arrivals.
Exodus of Venezuelans in 2024
Since 2018, when the crisis in Venezuela began to worsen, thousands of Venezuelans have crossed the border into Brazil.
Through the Federal Police, Venezuelan migrants can register their refugee status or temporary residence permit. This process is essential to access health services, education and formal employment.
The situation in Pacaraima reflects the broader drama of the Venezuelan diaspora, which has been one of the largest in recent history in the world.
Recent data indicate that in August 2024, 10,800 people arrived in Brazil via Pacaraima, which represents an increase of 28% compared to July. This figure also exceeds the monthly average recorded during the first eight months of the year.